2019 Womens Super League Round One Review

The opening round of the 2019 Womens Super League began at Odsal as Bradford Bulls Ladies claimed a 38-16 over Featherstone Rovers Ladies. The Bulls raced into a 10-0 lead with tries from Amy Hardcastle and Stacey Greenwood and a conversion from Leah Jones inside the first 17 minutes.

Greenwood scored her second try on the half hour with Jones kicking for 16-0 before a self-converted Katie Hepworth try cut the gap to 16-6 before he improved another effort before the interval for 16-12. Bradford began the second half with a second Hardcastle try (Jones conv) for 22-12 before Greenwood completed her hat-trick ahead of a third for Hardcastle with the Bulls in control. Fev cut the gap with a try before Savannah Andrade crossed and Jones took her total to five successes with the boot to complete the 38-16 victory.

In attendance at Robin Park Arena as reigning champions Wigan Warriors were edged 6-4 by fierce rivals St Helens. Wigan made a perfect start as Alison Burrows collected a cross-field kick from Gemma Walsh to touch down for 4-0 with Michelle Davis unable to convert from out wide. Saints levelled with a try from Leah Burke for 4-4 with the wide angle seeing Faye Gaskin unable to convert.

The game remained tight into the second half with Saints missing a chance to go ahead as Beth Stott missed a long range penalty goal after Davis had been sin binned. The final minutes saw a double blow for the Warriors as Sarah Harrison was sin binned after a scuffle with Gaskin kicking the resulting penalty goal to seal the 6-4 win.

2018 double winners Leeds Rhinos Women opened with a 58-4 win over debuting Wakefield Trinity Ladies at Weetwood Sports Park. The Rhinos started rapidly with Elle Frain touching down in the opening minute before Caitlin Beevers scored twice with Tasha Gaines converting only the latter for 16-0. Sophie Robinson, Aimee Staveley and Danielle Anderson all crossed with Gaines converting the lot for a 34-0 advantage that was cut to 34-4 by Saskia Lewis' try before half-time.

The second half saw the Rhinos resume their control with Frankie Townsend and Sophie Nuttall crossing before a second try for Anderson made it 46-4. A self-converted try from Gaines brought up the half century at 52-4 before she converted a late try from Amy Johnson for 58-4.

The final game of the round saw Castleford Tigers Women ease to an 80-0 hammering of York City Knights Ladies at YSF Playing Fields. The Tigers raced into a 16-0 lead with tries from Lacey Owen, Georgie Hetherington and Esme Renyolds with Tara Stanley converting twice. Owen scored her second before a self-converted effort from Stanley and second try from Renyolds made it 32-0 at the interval.

Renyolds and Hetherington completed their hat-tricks before Lucy Eastwood and Kelsey Gentles also went in before the hour mark, Stanley converting twice for 56-0. Grace Field's try and a Stanley conversion brought up the 60 point mark before inaugural Women of Steel winner Georgia Roche crossed (Stanley conv ) for 68-0. Second scores for Stanley and Field rounded off the win with Stanley converting for a tenth time for 80-0.