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2021 RLCCF
2021 SLGF
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MATCH REPORT |
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MATCH REPORT : St.Helens Women fought valiantly at The Brick Community Stadium but narrowly lost out in the 2025 Betfred Women's Super League Grand Final, 16-12, against Wigan Warriors Women. Craig Richards and Derek Hardman made two changes to the Saints team that were successful in the Semi-Final against York Valkyrie. Rachael Woosey stepped back into the centres, whilst Zoe Harris was named on the bench. Luci McColm made the move into the back-row, with Shona Hoyle then moving into the front row. Faye Gaskin kicked the ball to get the showpiece finale underway, and Saints began with gusto, driving the first tackle back and then keeping Wigan in their own half. Our first foray in the Warriors’ territory ended with the hosts on their own 20m line, a high kick well taken by a Wigan player. Six minutes in, Wigan offered the first real threat with Grace Banks moving onto the left edge and getting the ball, sprinting in from 20m out and going in, however, one of our players was obstructed in the build-up to it. It was sent to the Video Referee as a try but overturned after review. From that penalty, Saints kicked back into the Wigan half and looked to strike quickly, passing the ball out to McGifford on the wing and she found some space. Backing herself she went sprinting on the wing but was taken into touch. Ten minutes played, arm wrestle well and truly on, Gaskin sought to turn the pressure on the Cherry & Whites, placing a smart kick which lingered just by the in-goal line. However, both sides began trading some errors, firstly Anna Davies with a knock-on, then Hook for us. Our number two would make up for that on the next defensive set, claiming an awkward Wigan kick. A couple minutes later, Hook drove her opposite number Ruby Hunter into touch with a brilliant tackle. With 17 minutes played, Shona Hoyle made way for Vicky Whitfield, and her first involvement was a typically robust carry up the middle. It set up Cunningham to link with Luci McColm, and the centre/back-rower managed to break away from a loose tackle, however looking to get a pass away lost the ball. The hosts got to pile on the pressure by our line, a six-again combined with offloads and a repeat set due to a Cunningham intercept she could not catch saw the hosts then pull the ball right to Davies for a dive in the corner and the opening points. Izzy Rowe missed the kick, so 4-0 with 24 minutes played. Erin McDonald then made her way onto the field, interchanging with Channy Crowl. Gaskin created a chance for St.Helens to attack by kicking a swirling bomb which Banks knocked on. Close drives by Woosey and Whitfield set us up and then shaping it to pass it out left McGifford finished it off in the corner! Gaskin could not add the kick though, so back level it went, 4-4, with 12 minutes until the break. Wigan on a close attack got well stopped, but Casey needed to be checked over after possibly breaking her finger but wanting to play on. Another Gaskin kick caused issues for Davies, knocking on. More smart play by Faye close to the line forced a goal-line drop-out. Our Saints came close with Emily Rudge and McDonald, looking to barge over, but Wigan held firm. Shaniah Power then got the Warriors fans off their seats after fending away Cunningham and breaking the line, but Beri Salihi disrupted a pass to the inside and recovered the ball – outstanding play from the youngster. The hosts then gave away a penalty for a tackle off the ball, right on the halfway line. Saints made that error pay, putting Wigan on the back foot and playing it on the short side, right, and Phoebe Hook needed to beat three scrambling defenders to ground it in the corner – and she did! Gaskin could not add the kick from the sidelines though, 4-8, in the final main moment of the half. A narrow, four-point lead for our Saints after the first forty minutes. calm start to the second period, until Rudge needed to come off for a HIA with Hoyle back on. Both Saints and Wigan then had similar sets, Rowe kicked a grubber too strong for a tap 20m restart, then Gaskin from the halfway line drilled a kick into the right corner, which almost hung in the field of play, but just rolled out for a tap twenty. A third tap 20m restart followed soon after, Wigan benefited from a huge carry by Eva Hunter into our half. Georgia Wilson and Izzy Rowe then both from close range tried going over themselves but were stopped well by some heroic Red V defence. Foubister tried a kick to the left, but it was no good, out and over the dead-ball line. At the fifty-minute mark, Crowl came back on in the place of McDonald, and not long after that, Naomi Williams would need to come on as Casey looked to have a painful arm injury. An awkward kick then caught out Rotheram, bouncing into the post pad and Wigan’s chase was strong, driving the fullback over for a goal-line drop-out. From that the host team pushed St.Helens back again and then pulled the ball out left for Molly Jones to work her way into the corner. Rowe missed the kick, 8-8, with 25 minutes in the Grand Final to go. Wigan with more confidence after their second try had their forwards making metres, and a six-again call helped them on their way too. Pulling the ball out left once more, Molly Jones made the most of a numbers advantage and grabbed her second try. Rowe missed the kick, but the Warriors led 12-8 as we hit the hour mark. From the kick-off restart, Eva Hunter knocked on the ball, gifting Saints a chance to try to strike back quickly. However, Woosey was trying to keep an eye on the chasing defenders off the scrum knocked on. A let-off for the hosts. From that error, Wigan pulled the ball out right, and Davies broke away from 30m out and beat the chasing last-ditch defence. Rowe again missed the kick, 16-8, with sixteen minutes to play. Hoyle switched with McDonald coming back on. With twelve minutes to go, Zoe Harris made her way onto the field. Followed by Whitfield and Crowl rotating spots moments later. St.Helens were pushing for a late comeback, Gaskin 20m out dummied a kick and then ran the ball back to the left. The ball was worked to McGifford, but she was halted a couple of metres off the line. A rare penalty for the Saints for laying in the ruck saw Gaskin kick us into their half. On the last Harris and Gaskin combined, working it to the right where Hook evaded a couple of defenders and reached out to ground it. The Video Referee was called for, try given on the field and after a lengthy look it was given. Gaskin hurried with the kick but missed, 16-12 with just over four minutes to go. Mottershead came off, Casey came back on, looking to shake off the injury from earlier. Saints got into the Wigan half with their set but were judged to have taken Banks too high off the chase. Time ticked on, a Warriors set ended with Wilson wanting to power over from 10m out but were held short. The Saints had to go 90m with just over a minute to go. Gaskin then kicked straight into Wigan hands and the hosts slowly played out the set to edge out a win in the Grand Final. St.Helens Women were valiant but fell just short at The Brick Community Stadium, losing 16-12 to Wigan Warriors Women. Thanks to the Saints Media team for their amazing reporting this campaign. |
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