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| MATCH NOTES : The Saints Women's historic reign as holders of the Challenge Cup came to an end at Wembley Stadium. |
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2023 RLCCF
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2021 SLGF
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MATCH REPORT |
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MATCH REPORT : It was an initially good defensive start from the Red V, with Channy Crowl showing some strong hits. Our attack also started strong with Dani McGifford on the wing, who took a big tackle but got up and went back in. Following a Wigan kick, McGifford tried to get out of our own 10m, but the Wigan chase was strong and began the Warriors game-plan keep Saints in own our half. Ten minutes in after some sustained pressure in our own territory, ex-Saint Megan Williams got a try for Wigan Warriors from a short late pass, and Rowe kicked the conversion right under the sticks. However, following the restart a Wigan player tried an offload but knocked on leading to a Saints scrum in the Warriors half – our first major attack and Saints went close. Our team were able to push Wigan back onto their own line, full-back Beri Salihi tried a short crash ball to Amy Hardcastle, but it was too high for the left centre. The Saints got penalised for staying in a tackle too long, and Rowes kick took Wigan near the halfway line. Amy Hardcastle was quick to respond with a powerful tackle, taking Wigan winger Anna Davies into touch for the first time in the match. However, Wigan soon struck again, following a kick the Warriors got into good-ball position, and a strong line run for Molly Jones saw her break the line and pass to Mary Coleman who supported her run on the inside to cut Salihi out and score. Rowe kicked the conversion, and with 21 minutes gone we saw Vicky Whitfield and Georgia Sutherland and Katie Mottershead come on. Looking to bring impact and speed the ruck up. Davies threatened on the wing again, but Dani McGifford this time put on a powerful tackle on take her into touch. With the first half nearly over, Wigan got gifted another set right on our line from an unlucky high tackle from Hardcastle, as the Wigan player dropped height very quickly. There was a short pause in play before Warriors went over for the third time, with Emily Veviers scoring. Rowe added the conversion to make it 0-18. In the final moments of the first forty, Jodie Cunningham used a Captain’s Challenge after she was judged to have stripped the ball in a tackle. The challenge was successful, but the Red V could not break through for a late score before the break. The Red V came back out knowing they needed to perform a better second half, and it was a good first attacking set from the Saints, with big runs from Whitfield powering through the Warriors line. But it didn’t take long for the Warriors to stem that initial positive work. Rowe cut in on the defensive line putting on a show and go, leading her to score, and add the conversion. Just before the 50 minutes Crowl rotated back in, and Rachael Woosey then came on at centre for Luci McColm. A small pressure reliever followed, with Jones knocking on early in a set, leading to a Saints scrum 30m away from the try line. Katie Mottershead got the Saints on the board, with a classic hooker’s run from dummy half and powered over the line. Faye Gaskin kicked the conversion adding the extra two points, 6-24, with half an hour to go. The Saints went close on the back of those points being scored. Mottershead completed the set trying to spin out of a tackle for a quick fire brace, but not to be. The game went into an arm wrestle over the next ten minutes, but the Warriors came out of that period better. Eva Hunter broke through off a short pass near our defensive line, running in from 30m out. Rowe added the conversion, 6-30. The hopes of a comeback at this point seemed far too distant. The Warriors added two more scores in the final ten, firstly off a Saints chipped kick which our team did not take and it landed into Grace Banks hands. With nothing but space in front of her, she ran clean through. Their final try came after a break on their left edge was scrambled upon to be stopped, but on the next play the ball was worked out to the right and Davies scored in the corner. Rowe added both conversions. The sound of the final hooter blew, and Saints Women’s historic four-year reign as the holders of the Women’s Challenge Cup came to an end, at the final hurdle of the 2025 staging of the competition. Thanks to the Saints Media Centre for their excellent report. |
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