by Greg Nixon
A GUTSY first half from Warrington Wolves women just wasn’t enough to overcome a Jodie Cunningham-inspired St Helens at the Totally Wicked Stadium as the Wire Women went down 38-4.
The sin-binning of Wire full-back Michelle Davis early in the second half proved crucial as Saints powered to victory in the final Group D match of this year’s Challenge Cup.
Although Wire managed to keep Saints out while down to 12, it took too much out of the tank and the home side took full advantage of the tiring defence in the closing stages of the game.
The final score flattered the Saints a little as Warrington had battled hard in the first half, with Georgia Sutherland’s late try in the corner taking the side in 10-4 at the break
It was the least Warrington had deserved, with some great goal-line defence countered by some free-flowing rugby that looked to have rattled their host’s composure on a number of occasions in the first 40.
Saints opened the scoring in the eighth minute after a high kick had been fumbled by Warrington’s Abigail Johnston, with Emily Rudge going in at the corner following the scrum. Amy Taylor’s conversion attempt came back off the post.
Wire more than held their own over the next ten minutes, forcing a number of errors that saw the Saints go in at the break with a 56% set completion rate. However, they failed to take their chances and Saints gradually fought their way back into the game.
Pressure eventually told when, with Saints gaining ground thanks to some eager 6-again calls, Jodie Cunningham sliced through the defence to score under the sticks. Taylor was on target with the conversion this time.
It was Cunningham’s break in the first minute of the second half that proved to be a turning point. Although she was hauled down just short by a brilliant tackle by Davis, winger Leah Burke couldn’t be stopped going over in the corner from the resultant play the ball. Davis was sin-binned after being adjudged to have slid in with the knees after the try was scored and shown the yellow card.
Taylor missed with the conversion attempt but slotted over the penalty from under the sticks to give Saints a 16-4 lead.
Although Warrington remained heroic in defence, Saints ran away with the game in the final 20 minutes with further tries from Lucinda McColm, substitute Shona Hoyle and a second from Jodie Cunningham. When Zoe Harris went over in the corner it in the final five minutes it gave the score line a flattering 38-4 edge that didn’t reflect the hard work Warrington had put in.
Warrington Women’s Super League head coach Lee Westwood said: “We were fantastic in the first half and I was really proud of them.
“The sin-binning cost us as it took a lot out of us and we were running on fumes at the end.
“But we move on and will have learned a lot from this game.”
Warrington:
1 Michelle Davis FB
2 Abigail Johnston W
4 Emily Baggaley C
5 Samantha Simpson C
21 Georgia Sutherland W
6. Lucy Eastwood SO
7 Charlize Magraw SH
13 Amy Daniels P
20 Ellie Jelves H
24 Abigail Latchford P
11 Katie May Williams SR
12 Kacy Hayley SR
16 Georgia Westwood LF
Subs
26 Amy Boardman
3 Jessica Courtman
17 Lauren Roberts
15 Emily Downes
22. Claire Mullaney
19 Keira McCosh
