REPORT | |
| |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VENUE | ATTENDANCE | (HT) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 RLCCF
2021 SLGF
| |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MATCH REPORT |
|---|
MATCH REPORT : Matty Smith named an unchanged seventeen from the win over Leeds Rhinos Women in the previous round, with it being a special match for Luci McColm and Beri Salihi returning to face their former club Wigan at their home stadium. However, there was to be late changes due to Rebecca Rotheram pulling up during the warm up, so Pippa Birchall stepped up onto the bench with Megan Williams. The re-shuffle saw Erin Stott move to the wing, Paige Travis to centre, with Williams in at back-row. Faye Gaskin kicked the boot towards the hosts to get the match started. Saints on their first attack poked their nose through, Jodie Cunningham linked up as she so often does with Emily Rudge with a late pass and the back-rower broke the line but was stopped 15m out, Gaskin tried a floating kick into space behind the defensive line in front of the sticks, but no good. Wigan coming out of their own half though three times, for more attacking threat for St.Helens, the hosts held out though with Grace Banks grabbing a ricocheted Gaskin grubber, then McColm was somehow held up, before Travis was driven back. On the third chance, the Saints had a big numbers advantage on the left, good hands fed it to Rachael Woosey for the opening points 9 minutes in. Gaskin added the conversion from the left edge to make it 0-6. A period of set-for-set play followed, the middle channel either side of the half was where the majority of the arm wrestle was happening. Great drives from Cunningham and Travis provided some more impetus to push, and good defensive resolve to drive the Warriors back in numbers. An offside penalty was well earned for picking up the pace at the ruck, with the Warriors saving a second try going in with Erin Stott on the right wing, Ellise Derbyshire hit her with everything she had. A kick should have been grounded by Saints in the in-goal, but no good and a tap 20 from Banks switched the pressure round. Salihi took a kick well on her own line to stop Wigan’s first bit of goodball position. Shortly after the 20 minute mark, with Wigan looking more settled in the fixture a spiral was not caught, but kicked on by Davies and Saints scrambled to get effectively a set restart. After drives to get even closer, more space on the left opened up, Gaskin hit a big pass out to McColm who fed Woosey for her second via a dive into the corner. Gaskin from the touchline came oh so close to nudging the extra two over, but it hit the post pad, 0-10 with 15 left in the opening half. Solid defence was then displayed by Smith’s side, a big shot by Channy Crowl downed a Wigan player and then good pressure forced an incorrect play of the ball inside Wigan’s 30m line. St.Helens bombed a third try though, with the hosts back on their own line, the numbers advantage was available once more on the left but as Salihi sought to pass out we knocked on with the try line begging. 30 minutes played, Gaskin’s spiral caused more issues with Banks knocking it forward and one of her teammates catching it for an offside, but the visitors then let the ball go loose in a tackle themselves to stop the challenge. Back into an arm wrestle, the Saints would have to work for their opportunities, Zoe Harris on the right edge had some time and chipped to Travis but she was judged offside to invite good attacking position for the hosts. Salihi needed to take a kick in-goal and was tackled for a goal-line drop-out with just over four minutes to the break. Wigan’s best chance up to that point then came, with a woman advantage they passed left but the final pass was too strong and couldn’t be handled by Derbyshire. Coming off their own line, strong hit-ups by Katie Mottershead and Nom Williams helped get the team out of danger, Gaskin though placed a beauty of a kick from the halfway line to stop just before the sideline. That would be the final major event before the hooter came and Saints held a ten-point lead at the break. The conditions began feeling very humid as the second half began, and Saints would get the first taste of a threatening attack. Wigan knocked on through Victoria Molyneux but a pass could not be taken by Emily Rudge. Looking more comfortable following the break, the Warriors would build off a high shot on Molly Jones, followed by a set starting in the Red V’s half. A short-side play unlocked our defence and Derbyshire got on the end of a cut-out pass to score in the corner and get Wigan on the board. Isabel Rowe added the conversion, 6-10, ten minutes into the half. Whilst not a high scoring affair, the intensity was on display throughout the fixture as both sides made errors but forced them too. Five minutes after Wigan’s try, Gaskin went for a chip and chase but Wigan won the race. Shortly after, Beri Salhi would be forced off for a head injury assessment after a collision with Molyneux, this saw Cunningham move to fullback. An uncharacteristic mistake in goodball position by Jodie Cunningham was made up for moments later. With 15 to go, a Warriors kick caught out Woosey following an unkind bounce, Anna Davies began sprinting to the line but the Sainrs captain Cunningham managed to make a vital cover tackle. A sensational bit of defending. As the clock kept ticking, the next try felt hugely important. Wigan gave the Red V the ball inside their own half. On the last a Harris kick was played at by the Warriors and Saints crashed over the line on the first tackle of that new set through Vicky Whitfield, right next to the posts for an easy Gaskin conversion, 6-16 with less seven minutes left. Stepping in following the HIA for Salihi, Cunningham showed once again her adeptness in the #1 spot to stop a Wigan kick on her own line, with the end of the game drawing ever closer. Wigan would get the final points though in the game, Eva Hunter picked up a Jenna Foubister chipped kick ahead as the clock ticked down to another hugely important St.Helens away day victory. Isabel Rowe added the extra conversion but it was too little too later for the home side. Thanks to the Saints Media Centre for their excellent report. |
|---|