Apr 28

Barrow Raiders 8-28 York Valkyrie - Match Report

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Four tries from Emma Kershaw inspired York Valkyrie to a hard-fought 28-8 victory over Barrow Raiders at the Northern Competitions Stadium.

Kershaw put York inside the first dozen minutes before the Valkyrie scored four tries in 10 minutes before half-time to put the game beyond Barrow’s reach.

Savannah Andrade went over for the visitors before Kershaw completed her quadruple as a 28-0 half-time lead was established.

The Valkyrie were unable to add to their first-half tally, with Barrow’s Emma Hutchinson’s two tries the only points posted into the second 40 minutes.

Victory saw Lindsay Anfield’s side stretch their winning start to the 2024 season to five in all competitions, picking up a second straight Betfred Women’s Super League victory in the process.

Barrow held out for the opening 10 minutes before Kershaw broke the deadlock with her first try of the afternoon.

Tara Jan Stanley’s superb cut-out pass set the winger away down the right edge from 30m out before the assister landed the conversion, her first of four goals from five attempts.

The Raiders defence remained stern though until the Valkyrie hit their stride with four tries in the final 10 minutes.

Andrade was too strong for the Barrow tryline defence, touching down behind the sticks, as the floodgates opened.

Kershaw then grabbed her double when capitalising on Eva Izumi’s delayed pass.

The next two scores for the number four were almost identical. Sade Rihari through a perfect looping wide pass to Izumi, creating the space for Kershaw in the right corner.

And, on the back of a mazy Lacey Owen break, the same combination of a Rihari wide ball, and Izumi assist teed up Kershaw for her fourth try before half-time.

Barrow defended resolutely throughout the second half, denying York opportunities to extend their lead further.

The closest that Anfield’s side came to finding an elusive sixth try was through their potent right edge, but Stanley’s miss-out pass went behind Kershaw.

On the hour, the scrappy contest sparked into life when Lacey Owen and Vanessa Temple were each sin-binned for their part in a tussle.

The Raiders managed to cross for two quick-fire tries to cut the margin of defeat to 20 points.

Hutchinson grabbed both of the tries in the right corner, the first coming after a sustained period of pressure inside the York 20 and the latter after hacking a kick ahead and beating Stanley to the loose ball.

Beth Lindsay was off target with both conversion attempts.

Barrow: Norman, Hutchinson, Larkin, Todhunter, Fisher, Litherland, Dobson, Lindsay, Morley, Cottier, Temple, Stirzaker

Subs (all used): Friend, Smith, Sherlock, Rush

18th Player: Mellen

Tries: Hutchinson (69’, 71’)

Goals: Lindsay (0/2)

Sin-bin: Temple (63’)

York: Stanley, Kershaw, Izumi, Renouf, Partington, Rihari, Gale, Wood, Eastwood, Sharp, Sanderson, Andrade, Bell

Subs (all used): Owen, Gentles, Hendry, Wilton

18th Player: Marshall

Tries: Kershaw (11’, 32’, 36’, 39’), Andrade (29’)

Goals: Stanley (4/5)