REIGNING Super League champions York Valkyrie had too much firepower as they ran out 44-4 winners against a plucky Warrington Wolves at the LNER Community Stadium.
It was a hat-trick midway through the first half for winger Eboni Partington that took the game away from the Wire who had been matching their hosts in defence and attack until that point.
As so often this season against the so-called top four teams, Warrington conceded early after Lacy Owen capitalised on some poor Warrington defence to pounce on a kick through from Lucy Eastwood in the fifth minute.
But the expected avalanche of points didn’t materialise immediately as the Wire fought back, with strong defence especially from Abi Latchford and Katie May Williams in the middle forcing some uncharacteristic handling errors from Valkyrie.
Good kick pressure on the York half-backs led to Warrington’s only try of the game when Emily Baggaley’s charge down on the halfway line was followed up by a strong Abi Johnston run, leading to a smart offload from Baggaley for Charlize Magraw to tie up the scores on 14 minutes.
Any joy for the visitors was short lived as Partington broke through the Wire defence just minutes later for her first to put York 8-4 in front.
And despite more strong defence from the Wire forwards and some great kicking from Magraw, Partington was able to find a gap and race in for her second on 25 minutes. Izzy Brennan’s conversion made it 14-4.
Just moments later Partington completed her hat-trick after more poor handling from Warrington led to a scrum under their own posts. The ball was shifted wide to the right for the easiest of finishes in the corner to extend York’s lead to 18-4.
Fatigue might have been kicking in for the Warrington pack after their defensive stint but Magraw’s interception should have led to more points. Wire couldn’t capitalise and, after a long stoppage for an injury to Sade Rihari, the momentum switched and winger Bettie Lambert was able to break away and score on the stroke of half-time to give a 22-4 scoreline that Warrington’s efforts didn’t deserve.
The second half started in the same way as the first with Alex Stimpson capitalising on a rare error from Latchford in the 44th minute. Brennan converted to stretch the lead to 28-4.
And, as in the first half, Wire slowly grew back into the game with some big hits in defence and probing kicks from Magraw but this time couldn’t get the reward of a score.
And with just 13 minutes to go, powerhouse forward Liv Wood – who had caused Warrington problems all afternoon – sliced through some tired defending to score and make it an easy conversion for Ellie Hendry.
Two late tries for centre Manugalo Komaitai added extra gloss on the scoreline to see the defending champions home with a 44-4 win.
Warrington:
5 Rebecca Nixon
2 Abigail Johnston
3 Nicole Barnett
12 Sammy Simpson
33 Albany Coates
6 Millie Bell
7 Charlize McGraw
8 Abigail Latchford
14 Jasmine Wilson
10 Grace Burnett
11 Katie Williams
35 Emily Baggaley
20 Helena Turner
Subs
26 Ellie Jelves
34 Lucy Johnson
16 Megan Condliffe
17 Louise Fellingham
18th player:
21 Lauren EllisonYork Valkyrie:
4 Emma Kershaw
19 Bethany Lambert
11 Lacey Owen
23 Manuqalo Komiatai
2 Eboni Partington
6 Sade Rihari
21 Lucy Eastwood
8 Olivia Wood
28 Remi Wilton
18 Jessica Sharp
14 Georgia Taylor
12 Savannah Andrade
10 Jasmine Bell
Subs
20 Alexandra Stimpson
16 Daisy Sanderson
29 Isabelle Brennan
24 Ellie Hendry
18th player
32 Lauren Exley
