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2023 RLCCF
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2021 SLGF
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MATCH REPORT |
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MATCH REPORT : Faye Gaskin got proceedings underway with a big boot towards the East Stand at the Totally Wicked Stadium. The Warriors posed an early threat with Isabel Rowe breaking the line but Beri Salihi cut her down, on the next play with Saints scrambled Erin Stott killed off their early attack with an intercept. Five minutes gone and the Saints got some get up and drive with a captain’s carry from Jodie Cunningham causing some middle damage, but it was Vicky Whitfield who broke the line and the prop fended off Grace Banks but was stopped just ten shy of the line. Shaping up on the left a rogue pass fell into Warriors hands to stop our first major chance. From that Wigan got a penalty for a ball steal, the visitors with a set 10m out from our line, and an early six-again added further pressure. A kick on the last bounced in-goal and towards Phoebe Hook and the winger got it cleared out for a goal-line drop-out. Saints’ defensive set wasa good one, forcing a kick on the last too go too strong and out by the dead-ball line. Warriors showing some early dominance, but the Red V rolled the visitors back towards their own 30 off the seven-tackle set. St.Helens getting more of a foothold in the game kept hitting the middle channel, Whitfield again with a strong carry before a Gaskin kick forced a GLDO. From the kick-off Saints looked strong a smart and short pass from Zoe Harris in the middle to Emily Rudge saw the former England skipper power over under the sticks for the opener (following a long video referee review). Gaskin slotted over the extra two for a 6-0 lead with 15 minutes gone. Wigan would not take long to strike back quickly though, a big break on the right wing through Anna Davies, she fed inside and two more passes through Wigan hands saw Jenna Foubister just have enough to slide over, try given straight away. Rowe missed the kick from the middle of the field, 19 minutes played. A knock-on from the restart gifted St.Helens a chance to reply quickly, 35m out. Cunningham and Jones both went close, but Gaskin’s kick on the last towards Leah Burke was caught by the taller winger Davies. We compounded that with an early error for being offside. However, it was good work keeping the Warriors in their own half and kicking. Katie Mottershead and Darcy Stott came on for Whitfield and Jones. Chantelle Crowl clearly keen to make an impact in the game got pinged for two very close calls, firstly an offload which went to ground and backwards, however, it was judged forward, and then being offside at the scrum. Burke with good line speed forced Davies to knock-on 10m out. More robust and up your jumper carries this time by our right-edge moved us to 30m out, Gaksin again kicked and what looked to be a knock-on off Davies’ face was given to Wigan – another 50/50 call not landing Saints’ way. However, we kept the visitors back yet again with Crowl coming off as Nom Williams on. Stott kept doing well to wrestle herself out of the danger of going in touch, Harris then tried a cross-field ball but Burke definitely knocked on that time. An inverted play in between some lazy defending allowed Gaskin and Harris to link-up on the right shortside, Williams pushed to power over but was short, then Stott dummied and tried going herself but inches off the try line. After pinning the visitors deep in their own half on the last a chaotic kick from Banks came off Mottershead and the ref wiped the tackle count clean. After more good defence, Wigan 30m out kicked ahead and we sadly knocked on, a third set in a row for the Warriors. Phoebe Hook copped a bad hit, she needed to be checked over and a green card was shown, Meg Williams on in her stead. Davies threatened again on that edge and 10m away Leah Burke barged her into touch – some needed attacking play followed. Into the final minute, after spending almost ten minutes without the ball St.Helens had pushed Wigan back to their own line. A Harris kick posed a threat, but Banks shoved it out for a GLDO with less than 30 seconds to go. Williams and Mottershead took in carries before the whistle was blown for half time. A tight, two-point lead for the Red V as the teams went into the changing rooms. Hook passed her HIA and the second half began with a poor kick from the Warriors meaning it was a St.Helens ball from a penalty. Mottershead sensed an opportunity and from dummy half ate some easy metres, the ball then moved quickly out to Leah Burke and the incredible try-scorer got her 30th try of the season in just fifteen games – astonishing! Gaskin’s kick looked good from the sidelines but the power just came up short, 10-4 with two minutes in the half gone. Warriors twice following that quick score got held in their own half, the Red V made the strong defence pay with Travis going inches close to the line. A sharp pass from Mottershead allowed Gaskin to throw a big one to Woosey and Rachael powered her way over in the corner, extending the lead out to ten. Gaskin could not add the extras again from the sidelines. For the second time from a restarting kick, Rowe’s scuffed effort did not go ten metres, more dangerous chances for Smith’s troops. The Warriors firmed up though, Gaskin’s short chip taken cleanly by Davies to quell the attack for now. Warriors were given a helping hand to get out of their own half, a judged ball steal penalised against St.Helens. Ellise Derbyshire then turned that into a golden chance for the visitors on their left, Salihi’s tackle slowed her down enough. A big pass out to Davies bounced on the ground, she sprinted to the corner but Burke and Woosey threw everything at the winger to stop her short of the line in the corner! Meg Williams came back on but this time for Darcy Stott. Fifteen minutes played in the second stanza, Saints looked to add to their advantage and Harris on the move placed a sensational kick into the right corner on the ground which had to be cleared out. Once more close drives came from the likes of Mottershead and Erin Stott, but no fourth try yet. On our next attack, Harris’ kick attempt was not as good, giving the visitors a seven-tackle set, however we looked to pin our opponents back again and in a big hit we forced a Wigan error. 20 minutes left in the Semi-Final, Harris clearly running our kicking game and controlling our final plays lofted a very good chip which Hook chased valiantly but her opposite number pushed it for a GLDO. Pushing for that likely killer fourth score, Nom Williams in the middle got taken strongly and lost the ball. Hook made a big tackle as Wigan looked to get out of their own 30m and to all in the stadium it looked like a Warrior simply lost the ball – however, scrum down for the visitors. A proper skipper’s knock made up for it though, a scrambling tackle made Wigan lose the ball. Nerves all over the shop for both sides in the final quarter. Burke stayed down and was given a thorough check over of her knee, our Club Doctor Simon Perritt ensuring she was good to go, and the thumbs up was given. Nom William came off, Channy Crowl on. A shape up on our left where we got the first two scores of the second half looked threatening, but the final pass to Burke was no good with the try-line begging. Ever dangerous Davies on the right has space and time but was inside her own half, Woosey tracked back brilliantly to stop her. Tara Jones and Vicky Whitfield returned, looking to close this one out. Wigan’s attack began being more off-the-cuff as they fought to get back into it, but Smith’s players kept turning them away with chances in our half limited. Whitfield and Crowl combined with individual carries to roll the Warriors downfield and get Saints close. Gaskin slid a kick on the last looking to bounce it off the post pad but Wigan jumped on it, they would knock-on shortly after heading into the final ten. Whitfield took some stopping with four Warriors holding her up by the line, quick play to out left and a brilliant Cunningham pass to Burke saw the clinical finisher get a second Semi-Final score! Faye’s fourth conversion attempt again was so close but fell just in front of the crossbar – 18-4 with seven minutes left. Both sides gave all they had in the final minutes, Wigan’s attempts becoming more desperate with kicks on the ground by the halfway line but rolling. However, Saints had done enough and calmly sought completion to finish it. The game came to a close, but not without a little flare up afterwards – it was a derby after all – but Saints Women are into the Grand Final. Thanks to the Saints Media Centre for their excellent report. |
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