York City Knights made it four wins from four in the Betfred Women’s Super League with a 0-46 win over the Wigan Warriors at Robin Park Arena.
The Knights headed into Sunday’s fixture with a 100% winning record in the league having picked up wins over Huddersfield Giants, St Helens and Leeds Rhinos.
Lindsay Anfield’s side ran in a total of nine tries against the Warriors, including a hat-trick by Emma Kershaw with Sinead Peach putting in a player of the match performance.
It took just three minutes for the Knights to take the lead on their first attack of the game when the ball was shipped out and passed inside and then back to Kershaw who powered her way over for her first of three tries.
Windy conditions would make it a difficult afternoon for Tara Jane Stanley who missed her first conversion as the Knights held a 0-4 lead.
On the stroke of the 16th minute, the Knights extended their lead thanks to centre Tamzin Renouf who side-stepped the Wigan defence. Having created space following a cross-field play, she was able to plant the ball down for the Knights’ second.
Stanley missed her second conversion as the score remained 0-8.
Kershaw scored her second try of the afternoon at the 26-minute mark after England international Hollie Dodd created space down the flank with the centre making a perfect run on the inside to touch down and make it 0-12.
The half-time hooter sounded with the Knights holding on to a 0-12 lead and momentum in the second half fully swung York’s way with six more tries being scored.
Quick and direct attacks were the plan of action for Anfield’s team with Georgia Taylor running onto a looping pass after quick hands along the attacking line to score the Knights’ first try of the second half and give themselves a 0-16 lead.
Dodd went from assisting a try to scoring as sustained pressure continued on the Warriors line, with the ball falling kindly to the England international who powered her way over on 50 minutes. Stanley converted her first conversion of the afternoon to make it 0-22.
Ruthlessness in attack continued to be the Knights’ strongest factor as the player of the match Peach barged her way over the try line after a break through the middle of the field to make it 0-26 with Stanley adding the extras.
Savannah Andrade crossed for the Knights next effort before Stanley found the try-line herself. A solo run from twenty metres out after a brilliant line break added to the Knights lead and two conversions gave Anfield’s team a forty-point advantage.
A hat-trick and celebrations were the order of the day as Kershaw crossed over for her third of the afternoon after a well-controlled play from Stanley.
That was the ninth and final try for Anfield’s side who have a four-point lead at the Women’s Super League table with a home game against Huddersfield on the cards next.
WIGAN WARRIORS LINE-UP: Georgia Wilson, Molly Jones, Anna Davies, Kaitlin Hilton, Rebecca Greenfield, Carys Marsh, Freya Hellin, Emma Dwyer, Holly Speakman, Mary Coleman, Georgia Lake, Bethany Hayes.
INTERCHANGES: Abbie Singleton, Jade Gregory-Haselden, Jodie Morris, Cerys Jones
TRIES: N/A
GOALS: N/A
YORK CITY KNIGHTS LINE-UP: Tara Jane Stanley, Bettie Lambert, Tamzin Renouf, Emma Kershaw, Ashleigh Hyde, Georgie Hetherington, Olivia Gale, Olivia Wood, Sinead Peach, Matilda Butler, Hollie Dodd, Savannah Andrade, Jasmine Bell.
INTERCHANGES: Katie Langan, Georgia Taylor, Grace Field, Alisha Clayton
TRIES: Emma Kershaw (3’, 29’, 69’) Tamzin Renouf (16’) Georgia Taylor (44’) Hollie Dodd (50’) Sinead Peach (54’) Savannah Andrade (58’) Tara Jane Stanley (62’)
GOALS: Tara Jane Stanley 5/9
