Women's beaten in Semi-Final Wigan Warriors

• Match Report as Wigan Warriors Women fell to defeat in the Semi-Final of the Challenge Cup against Leeds Rhinos Women.
• The sides went into the break level after Beri Salihi’s try, before Leeds crossed twice in the second half to book their place at Wembley Stadium.
• FT | Wigan Warriors 4-16 Leeds Rhinos Women.

Wigan Warriors Women were beaten 16-4 by Leeds Rhinos Women in the Semi-Final of the Challenge Cup at Headingley Stadium.

After an evenly contested first half, which saw the sides go into the break level after Beri Salihi’s try, the Rhinos scored two quickfire tries on the hour to book their place in the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley.

Report

An evenly contested opening 10 minutes was battled out at Headingley Stadium, as Wigan twice went close to taking the lead. First Anna Davies almost touched down Rachel Thompson’s grubber kick, before Mollie Jones went over but was denied due to a forward pass.

The Warriors were then forced into defending their own try line when Leeds came forward twice in quick succession. The Rhinos found themselves 10m out following a drop out, but the Cherry and Whites stood firm to hold Zoe Hornby up.

Leeds opened the scoring after 18 minutes when play was worked wide to Amy Hardcastle who burst free to touch down. The score remained 4-0 after Ruby Enright kicked the conversion attempt wide.

The Warriors responded instantly, and after a knock on from the Rhinos presented a repeat set 20m out, play was shipped to the left where Thompson was able to smartly offload to Salihi to score in the corner with 23 minutes on the clock.

The sides could not be separated at the interval, and after a strong start to the second half, the Warriors almost took the lead when Davies broke free on the right wing. However, the Rhinos scrambled well to deny the centre less than 10m out.

The score remained level until the hour when two tries in five minutes from the Rhinos saw the Warriors fall 14-4 behind. A well-timed pass set Caitlin Beevers up to sprint clear down the left wing to dive over first, before Hanna Butcher released Tara Moxon to go over in the opposite corner.

Despite Eloise Heyward adding a further two points from the tee with eight minutes to go, the Warriors remained spirited until the final as Leeds held onto their 16-4 advantage.

Gallery:

Wigan Warriors: Beri Salihi, Rebecca Greenfield, Anna Davies, Molly Jones, Kaitlin Hilton, Grace Banks, Carys Marsh, Holly Speakman, Emma Dywer, Cerys Jones, Victoria Molyneux, Mary Coleman, Rachel Thompson.

Interchanges: Alison Burrows, Sarah Bardsley, Lucy Johnson, Eva Hunter.

18th Player: Jodie Morris.

Tries: Salihi (23′).

Goals: Salihi (0/1).

Leeds Rhinos: Ruby Enright, Sophie Robinson, Hanna Butcher, Caitlin Beevers, Tara Moxon, Caitlin Casey, Jenna Greening, Zoe Hornby, Kiera Bennett, Dannielle Anderson, Amy Hardcastle, Lucy Murray, Bethan Dainton.

Interchanges: Jasmine Cudjoe, Kaiya Glynn, Eloise Hayward, Isabelle Northrop.

18th Player: Beth Lockwood.

Tries: Hardcastle (18′), Beevers (60′), Moxon (65′).

Goals: Enright (0/1), Hayward (2/3).

Referee: Elliot Burrow.