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| MATCH NOTES : A tight and tense affair at the Totally Wicked Stadium saw the St.Helens Women get a 10-6 mid-week victory over York Valkyrie to go top of the Betfred Women’s Super League table. |
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2021 RLCCF
2021 SLGF
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MATCH REPORT |
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MATCH REPORT : Matty Smith made several changes to the lineup he last named against Warrington Wolves at home, with Beri Salihi, Luci McColm, Leah Burke, and Naomi Williams coming back into the fold. Faye Gaskin got proceedings underway at the Totally Wicked Stadium with a boot which Lacey Owen did not deal with and was allowed to go out just by the 20m line after bouncing in the field of play. Saints would pose the first threat with a couple of forward carries, Vicky Whitfield from close range looked to ground the ball but the referee was right in front of the effort and viewed as a knock on. Four minutes into the game, Paige Travis already proving to be a handful was taken high 20m out in the middle of the field. Gaskin called for the kicking tee and made no error for an early Saints lead, 2-0. Smiths’ St.Helens team did not wait to attack closely once more, Leah Burke on her return to the team found space on the left wing and was just stopped by Tara Jane Stanley inches off the line, a barge over by Rachael Woosey was attempted but still York held out. The Valkyrie would be held by their own halfway line, but Woosey knocked on the bomb kick and welcomed the visitors’ first major attack of the half. Strong defence by Zoe Harris cut down Stanley on the left edge. York now on the backfoot held down a tackle in Saints good ball position, gifting another set, and Burke would not be denied on her second go near the line. The Red V shaped up on the left and a peach of a pass from Emily Rudge just as she got hit opened the edge up, Luci McColm fed our #5 for the first try. Gaskin’s kick attempt went across the face of the posts for a 6-0 lead, 13 minutes played. Confident now, the Saints calmly worked back up-field when 40m out Luci McColm got an offload away in the tackle for Burke again. Leah showed her brilliant pace and took on Stanley and grounded the ball in-goal for her brace. Gaskin’s kick once again just swept across the posts but not over, 10-0 – 16 minutes gone. Halfway through the first period, the Saints went at York once more, strong carries by Channy Crowl and Whitfield posed questions of the visitors’ defensive line. York would get a let off as well off a judged Crowl high-shot on Stanley. The Valks then with a rare – to that point – sight-line of the try line could not make the most of it. Darcy Stott, Katie Mottershead and Naomi Williams came onto the field looking to keep the good start in the middles rolling, but an arm wrestle ensued with the match being played predominantly in the middle channel of the pitch. York after pushing into the Saints half got awarded a gift with a very late six-again in the tackle count, judged for staying in the tackle too long. After keeping grinding on the right edge, two solid efforts were stopped but Remi Wilton, from a dummy half pick-up, managed to just twist and get over. After a period down hurt, Stanley added the conversion, 10-6 with eight minutes left in the first half. Valkyrie now had the wind in their sails and were more in control of the flow of the game as we headed towards half time. Close calls from some second-phase play were scrambled onto and cut down. McColm then made a relieving break into the York half and had the ball stripped, Saints went for the kick out to challenge the try line but the referee after one tackle called time. A tight first half which the Saints largely controlled, but York’s try kicked our opponents into a better gear. An early high shot on Mottershead gave the Red V the first challenge of the second period and some chaotic rugby almost unlocked the York left-edge. On their attack York punted high and the ball was allowed to bounce, it would go back into their hands and they passed out left but former Saint Eboni Partington knocked on – a let off and an early wake-up call. Smith’s Saints firmed up in defence, Naomi Williams with some great hits and forced a knock-on. As we looked to attack ourselves though, a laboured pass to Gaskin got knocked on. York then on the move traded a third knock-on in as many minutes. It was a cagey period, which did not stop there. A very high shot on Cunningham allowed the Saints a chance to go into the Valkyrie 20m, but trying perhaps a little too hard we lose the ball in the tackle. With more good work from the middles, York were kept in their own half though on their attack. Both sides would trade a knock on each, Saints with four opposition players on her in a tackle, Owen straight off a scrum. 55 minutes in, Burke was opened up on the left wing once more and looked to barge over Stanley to grab a hat-trick, but the fullback threw her all into a big wrap on the winger. On the last, Smiths’ Women threw it left to right and Erin Stott sought to power over but was held short. On the hour mark York got flagged for being offside, once again a good chance for St.Helens to attack. Woosey was held out on the right wing before Rudge looked to drive herself over but lost the ball. Looking to earn another opportunity, Saints showed good line speed and Kelsey Gentles under pressure this time bundled the ball forward. York showed good goal-line defence, Whitfield now back on for her second shift and Mottershead powered the team close. Gaskin on the last attempted a chip to Burke but it just ran out for a seven-tackle 20m tap restart, and York then got another gift with a judged strip of the ball. From that Valkyrie went close, but the Saints kept pushing and tackling and Stanley under pressure floated a cross-field kick which McColm took in the in-goal and got out under the sticks, an impressive run. Burke two tackles later was taken high, yet another one, but this one went unpunished with the Saints faithful in the stands loudly voicing their frustration. Now there was a bit of needle entering the game after that decision, St.Helens middles tackled with plenty of enthusiasm and drive heading towards the final ten minutes. Stanley hoisted a high ball which Beri Salihi unfortunately knocked on, inviting more pressure. Saints showed outstanding defence to keep the visitors out this time , and a kick was well left by Gaskin to run out. However, Crowl looking to regain her grasp of the ball welcomed more pressure inside our own 20m, with an offside penalty after as well. Smith’s girls kept turning up for one another though, their scramble was exemplary but now needed to get out of their own danger zone with less than five to go. Partington on her kick return was hit well by Tara Jones and Whitfield, forcing a relieving knock-on in the dying embers of the game. Calm and composed one-up rugby by Jones and Harris as the seconds ticked down and the referee blew the whistle for time and a vitally important victory. Many thanks to the Saints Media Centre for their excellent match report. |
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