The huge catch-up continues with a focus on the Women's Super League with Round Two from Groups One and Two.
Rhinos Rout Giants
Leeds Rhinos Women opened their season with a huge 60-4 victory over Huddersfield Giants Women. A rapid start from the Rhinos saw them race into a 10-0 lead inside eight minutes as Keara Bennett and Zoe Hornby crossed for tries and Courtney Winfield-Hill converted the latter. Hudds cut the gap with an Amelia Brown try for 10-4 after 16 minutes but it was the only joy the Giants had as Caitlin Beevers, Winfield-Hill and Sam Hulme all touched down to push the lead to 22-4. Leeds ensured a comfortable 26-4 lead into the interval with a Fran Goldthorp try.
Goldthorp claimed her second score within four minutes of the restart and Winfield-Hill converted before completing her own brace on 52 minutes for 36-4. The rout was wrapped up by four further scores in the space of 15 minutes with Elychia Watson and Georgia Roche crossing ahead of a hat-trick try for Goldthorp and second for Hulme, Winfield-Hill converted the lot to confirm the 60-4 success.
Saints Stunned By Knights
York City Knights Ladies extended their winning start in a 13-6 win over champions St Helens Women. Saints opened the scoring with 12 minutes played, Leah Burke crossing for a try which Zoe Harris converted for 6-0 before Grace Field touched down for the Knights and Tara-Jane Stanley levelled with the boot for 6-6.
The sides remained locked at 6-6 into the interval and the hosts regained the lead on 54 minutes with a self-converted try from Stanley who made it 12-6, Saints' hopes of avoiding a first loss since 2020 were ended late on by Stanley's drop goal to seal the 13-6 victory.
Bulls Battle Past Miners Rangers
Bradford Bulls Women sealed a narrow 12-8 win over Leigh Miners Rangers Ladies. The visitors struck first with Robyn Bell-Soppelsa crossing on 26 minutes for 4-0 before Katie Whelan's try brought the Bulls level at 4-4 on the half hour mark and the score remained into the interval.
Bradford completed the turnaround with 50 minutes played as Lily Williams went over for 8-4 but they were rapidly pegged back by a second score from Bell-Soppelsa for 8-8. The lead changed hands for third and final time late on with joy for the hosts, Alice Fisher sealing a 12-8 win with a 74th minute try.
Wolves Trounce Trinity
Warrington Wolves Women continued their winning start with an 86-0 hammering of Wakefield Trinity Ladies. The Wolves raced into a 22-0 lead inside 15 minutes with a Georgia Sutherland brace and tries from Sam Simpson, Amy Daniels and Michelle Davis who converted her own try. Sutherland completed a 21 minute hat-trick which Davis converted for 28-0 before she improved efforts from Claire Mullaney, Charlotte Foley, Ellie Jelves and a second try from Simpson for the 50 point mark at 52-0. The hosts held a huge 56-0 lead into the interval after Sutherland claimed her fourth try in the 38th minute.
Simpson complete her hat-trick within four minutes of the restart for 60-0 ahead of scores from Abi Johnston, Charlize Magraw and Amy Johnson with Davis and Foley converting for 78-0. The rout was completed by two scored in the final eight minutes with Sutherland reaching five scores and Davis her brace for an 86-0 victory.
Featherstone Rovers Ladies made it consecutive wins with a comfortable 56-6 success over Castleford Tigers Women. The hosts struck first with an Amie Backhouse try which Jess Matthews converted for 6-0. Cas' response was almost instant as Maisie Lumb touched down with the effort converted for 6-6. Fev regained the lead as Nat Carr crossed for a brace either side of a second score from Backhouse, Fran Copley converting twice to open up a 22-6 lead which remained into the interval.
The Tigers managed a half hour period across the two halves with the score at 22-6 but three scores in nine minutes around the hour saw Zoe Teece, Olivia Grace and Hannah Watt cross and Lucy Richardson convert once for 36-6. Fev wrapped up the win with a Shanelle Mannion score ahead of a Copley brace and second score for Grace with Copley converting twice more to complete the 56-6 win.
