Women

BWSL: Round 11 Round Up

12 Aug 2024

St Helens ran in 11 tries in a thumping 56-6 win over Featherstone Rovers to return to the top of the Betfred Women's Super League table on Saturday.

Saints opened the scoring after just two minutes as Philippa Birchall ran clear to score under the posts.

Despite Rovers briefly reducing the arrears by four points via Brogan Churm, a 14-minute hat-trick from Dani McGifford changed the complexion, and once Jodie Cunningham scored Saints led 28-6 at the break.

Two second-half tries from Katie Mottershead and an astonishing four from England winger Leah Burke comfortably sealed Saints' 12th successive victory in all competitions to send them back two points clear at the top of the table following Leeds Rhinos' win over Wigan Warriors on Friday.

By contrast, Rovers remain pointless after 11 matches and staring down the barrel of having to retain their Super League status in a play-off against the national winners of the Championship.

The Rhinos claimed a fourth successive Super League victory and maintained their unbeaten record against the Warriors since their defeat in the 2018 Women's Grand Final.

Wales captain Bethan Dainton shone in a strong first quarter for the Rhinos, with two superb individual tries in three minutes, opening up a 10-point lead early on.

However, Warriors did not let their heads drop and the league's top scorer Anna Davies went over in the corner to reduce the arrears to 10-4 at half time.

Early in the second half, Georgia Wilson crossed over on the right side to cut the gap further to just two points.

Her score seemed to put new fire into the Rhinos, though, and a converted try from Ebony Stead and a second in two matches from hooker Bella Sykes took them out of the Warriors' reach.

Substitute Shona Hoyle scored two further tries in the final 10 minutes to add further gloss to the victory.

Warrington Wolves went down 32-14 at Barrow Raiders - Warrington had briefly led, but two Sam Norman tries and one from Demi Fisher took the home side 12 points clear.

Despite The Wire scoring a converted try just before half-time, two scores from Vanessa Temple, and another from Emily Stirzaker, secured the two points for Raiders who climb to sixth in the table.

Sunday's game then saw York Valkyrie end their regular home games in the Women’s Super League with a nine try display against Huddersfield Giants (48-10).

The Valkyrie grew more dominant as the game progressed to clinch another two points as they push for a home tie in the play-offs.

Eboni Partington and Tara-Jane Stanley both scored a brace as the Valkyrie moved level on points in the table with third place Wigan Warriors.