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2021 RLCCF
2021 SLGF
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MATCH REPORT |
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MATCH REPORT : It was a cagey start for both sides with some early errors, as both knew it would be a tough afternoon in the conditions, battling against Storm Dave’s wind, rain, and hail, but our defence was strong from the get-go, with Huddersfield finding it hard to make metres. Off a big kick downfield, the Giants sought to reply with a tough defence of their own; however, Leah Burke’s first carry back was brilliant and pinched 50 metres to set our attack going. After pushing the hosts back on their own line, the Red V’s first try of the season came from our number nine, Katie Mottershead, and a scoot from dummy half. Faye Gaskin added the kick for her first points of the new season, 0-6. It was almost back-to-back scores for St.Helens, too. Gaskin on the left fired out a big pass to centre Rachael Woosey 10 metres out from the line, but it was just too strong. Saints kept pushing the Huddersfield pack backwards, with plenty of physicality on display by both sides. Controlling the ruck, Shona Hoyle-Holdsworth was impressive with her carries and got a just reward around the 20-minute mark with a powerful run close to the line to grab our second. Zoe Harris took in the restarting kick-off in the swirling wind very well, evading and getting us into the home half, but what looked like a hip drop tackle stopped her and saw her stay down hurt, and the tackle went on report. Harris got checked over and chose to play on, and Huddersfield then gave away a penalty. Erin McDonald sought to get our third score but was judged to have committed a double movement in the act of scoring. The physicality stepped up when Vicky Whitfield came on, and Travis matched that intent, too. Our players kept Huddersfield back in their own territory, with close efforts from Emily Rudge, who was held up, Hollie Bawden, who was ruled to have knocked on over the line, and both Gaskin and Cunningham getting stopped inches short of the line. As the end of the opening period neared, Huddersfield got their first real sustained attack in our territory from back-to-back penalties. St.Helens kept turning the Giants away, with Phoebe Hook suffering an injury in the build-up, but on the last, Mollie Iceton managed to get in at the corner. Sam Hulme added the conversion to make it 6-10 heading into the changing rooms. Hook would not return to the field, suffering a broken foot injury, and we wish her the best with her recovery. Liv Leach stepped in then on the wing for her official debut. St.Helens got back to a simpler game in the conditions, rolling the Giants back through the middle. Two high tackles took us closer, and Vicky Whitfield, on the charge, held off her opposite number to score under the posts. Gaskin slotted over the kick, 6-16, just five minutes into the second forty. Kick-offs proved tricky in the conditions, with Storm Dave continuing to make it tough. Harris was judged to have knocked on from the restart, so Huddersfield from the scrum handed the ball to Amelia Brown on the right, and she made the most of the space to score in the corner – unconverted, 10-16. Shona Hoyle-Holdsworth made her way back on after ten minutes of the half, and her impact was immediate. Harris moving right gave a reverse pass to Shona and the Saints’ #11 powered over two Giants next to the posts. Gaskin kicked her third two-pointer, 10-22. It was almost a carbon copy for Brown following another kick-off error, but Gaskin cut down the Huddersfield #1. The Giants then were getting rolled again, leading to three consecutive penalties. Just before the hour mark, Whitfield got her second, looked to be taken high in the process, so she stayed down to get assessed before being given the thumbs up to play on. Following the brief delay, Gaskin added the extras, 10-28. Firmly in control, the Red V kept moving the Giants back onto their own line. Quick hands to the right wing set up Leah Burke to score in the corner on her return, 10-32. Gaskin could not add the conversion this time, fighting against the strong wind. After yet another high tackle from the restart, Hannah Watt for Huddersfield was shown a yellow card. Hoyle-Holdsworth struck to make the player advantage count and bag a hat-trick. Cunningham gave her a short pass close to the line under the H’s. Gaskin kicked this one to make it 10-38 with just over ten minutes left to play. St.Helens grabbed one more try whilst the Giants were down to 12 players. Good set-up and shape on the left opened up a great Rachael Woosey pass to Leach to score on her debut. Gaskin’s best conversion of the day was the last Saints points of the day, a terrific touchline kick which just got over from out wide, 10-44. The Giants would get a late consolation, again from the kick-off, the wind swirling the ball around, allowing it to bounce. Fast hands to the left allowed Iceton to grab an unconverted second try. St.Helens Women earned a battling win, in stormy conditions, to get the new campaign started in good fashion. Match Summary Giants team: Amelia Brown, Faye Barraclough, Cussons, Fran Copley, Mollie Iceton, Olivia Gale, Becky Grady, Gracie Hobbs, Meg Preston, Lauren Exley, Amy Bennett, Maddie Hutchison, and Hannah Watt Interchanges: Sam Hulme, Jess Harrap, Kacy Haley, and Caitlin Cox 18th player: Leah Schofield Tries: Mollie Iceton (39, 77), Amelia Brown (47) Conversions: Sam Hulme 1/3 Yellow card: Hannah Watt Saints team: Rebecca Rotheram, Leah Burke, Rachael Woosey, Hollie Bawden, Phoebe Hook, Zoe Harris, Faye Gaskin, Shona Hoyle-Holdsworth, Katie Mottershead, Erin McDonald, Paige Travis, Emily Rudge, and Jodie Cunningham Interchanges: Vicky Whitfield, Caitlin Casey, Alyx Bridge, Liv Leach 18th player: Jadine McVernon Tries: Katie Mottershead (8), Shona Hoyle-Holdsworth (18, 53, 66), Vicky Whitfield (43, 58), Leah Burke (63), Liv Leach (72) Conversions: Faye Gaskin 6/8 |
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