After the 2020 season was cancelled just a week before the opening round was due to begin, the long wait for the Women's Super League action to return finally ended on Sunday with the 2021 season opening in style across four clashes.
The round opened with newly promoted Warrington Wolves Women suffering an opening 52-8 defeat to Wigan Warriors Women at Victoria Park. Wigan raced into a 20-0 lead with crosses from Rachel Thompson, Vanessa Temple and a brace from Georgia Wilson who converted twice.
Warrington ended the Wigan spree with Georgia Sutherland touching down for 20-4 but before the interval, Wilson claimed her hat-trick and went in once more for a 28-4 lead at the break. Wigan took under a minute of the restart to resume control, Vicky Molyneux racing in and Wilson converting for 34-4 before Wilson scored her fifth try of the afternoon to make it 38-4. Warrington again ended a Wigan spree this time with Amy Daniels crossing for 38-8 but second scores for Molyneux & Temple followed by a Rebecca Greenfield saw Wilson convert once to wrap up a superb opening victory which saw her score 28 points.
Super Saints Batter Bulls
St Helens Women stormed to an 86-0 win over Bradford Bulls Women in the second game of the day at Victoria Park. Saints raced into a 22-0 lead inside the first quarter of the game thanks to scores from Carrie Roberts, Jodie Cunningham, ex-Bull Amy Hardcastle & Faye Gaskin with Gaskin converting all but the first score. The spree intensified with five more scores before the interval, Danielle Bush, Emily Rudge, Rach Woosey all crossing ahead of second scores for Hardcastle & Cunningham with Gaskin converting the lot for a huge 52-0 half-time lead.
The second half saw the spree continue with Roberts completing her hat-trick ether side of a second score for Rudge with Gaskin kicking two successes for 66-0 before Bush scored her second and Hardcastle her third for 74-0. A rare gap in scores saw the Bulls hold Saints out for 15 minutes before a Chantelle Crowl try (Gaskin conv) was followed by Cunningham's hat-trick try which Gaskin converted for an impressive haul of 26 points in the 86-0 rout.
Rhinos Rout Knights
The second venue of the round was Weetwood Sports Park as Leeds Rhinos Women eased to a 68-16 win over York City Knights Ladies. The Rhinos struck first with Courtney Winfield-Hill crossing for 4-0 before Katie Langan levelled for York inside ten minutes. York took the lead with an Ellie Hendry try which Mel Halsted converted for 10-4 before four scores in seven minutes saw Leeds take a 24-10 lead into the break after Ellie Oldroyd, Chloe Kerrigan, Hanna Butcher & Adaoha Akwiwu all crossed with Winfield-Hill converting twice.
The second half began with Elle Frain resuming the Rhinos' spree with Akwiwu claiming her second score and Sophie Robinson crossing too with Winfield-Hill converting twice for a 40-10 lead.
The points were sealed before the hour mark with Ella Johnson's score for 44-10 and the 50 point mark came with Tara Moxon crossing (Winfield-Hill conv) for 50-10. York ended the scoring spree for Leeds with Hendry's second score and Halsted converting for 56-16. Leeds had time for two more scores with Frain getting her second and Winfield-Hill claiming her second try and converting both for a 68-16 final score.
Classy Cas Rout Rovers
The final game of the round also took place at Weetwood Sports Park with Castleford Tigers Women claiming a comfortable 40-6 win over Featherstone Rovers Ladies. A rapid start from the Tigers saw Kelsey Gentles cross twice inside ten minutes with Leah Jones converting twice for 12-0. Tamzin Renouf touched down before Gentles completed her hat-trick on the half hour with Jones converting for 22-0 into the interval.
Hollie-Mae Dodd increased the Tigers' lead further with Jones converting for 28-0 within four minutes of the restart and she went in for a second try eight minutes later (Jones conv) for a 34-0 lead. Fev got off the mark through Brogan Churm's try which Jess Courtman converted for 34-6 but Cas had the last say on the score with Grace Field crossing and Jones converting to wrap up a 40-6 success.
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