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Wigan Warriors have concluded a stellar season with a decisive victory.
Betfred Women’s Super League Grand Final
Wigan Warriors (4) 16
Tries: Davies 2, Jones 2
St Helens (8) 12
Tries: McGifford, Hook 2
Wigan Warriors secured their first treble in the women’s game, mounting a comeback to defeat St Helens in the Grand Final at the Brick Community Stadium.
Before a record-breaking crowd of 5,018, St Helens appeared poised to defy expectations at half-time. Tries from Dani McGifford and Phoebe Hook responded to Anna Davies’ initial score for the Warriors, who had already claimed the Challenge Cup and League Leaders’ Shield.
However, following the interval, Wigan elevated their performance, with Molly Jones scoring two tries within a five-minute span, shifting the game’s momentum. Davies then surged ahead for her second try, providing Wigan with a more comfortable lead.
St Helens, previously defeated in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley and narrowly missing the League Leaders’ Shield, rallied with Hook’s second try but were ultimately unable to prevent Wigan from clinching their first Grand Final victory since 2018.
Women’s Super League Grand Final: Wigan seal treble after thrilling win against St Helens
St Helens entered the match as underdogs after a significant 42-6 defeat at Wembley in June. However, their Super League resurgence, marked by a 22-22 draw and a narrow 24-20 loss, indicated a challenging encounter for both teams, which indeed materialized.
Wigan’s formidable backs faced off against St Helens’ powerful pack, resulting in a closely contested and tense first half. Both sides exhibited disciplined and determined defensive efforts.
An opening try for Wigan by Grace Banks was disallowed following a video review that detected an obstruction in the build-up. Subsequently, Rebecca Rotheram’s crucial tackle prevented Jenna Foubister from breaking free, placing St Helens on the defensive.
Winger Davies continued her streak of scoring in every game against St Helens this season, breaking through two attempted tackles to score in the corner. However, the score was leveled when Banks fumbled a high kick from Faye Gaskin, allowing St Helens to quickly move the ball left, setting up McGifford for her 20th Super League try of the season.
St Helens took the lead at half-time after another swift ball movement resulted in Hook scoring in the corner.
Wigan, facing only their second defeat of the season, responded with champion-like resolve. They forced St Helens into a goal-line drop-out and then swiftly moved the ball left, allowing Jones to equalize.
Five minutes later, Jones repeated the feat, scoring after more skillful handling. As the St Helens defense tired, Davies’ pace and power proved too much, as the England player surged down the right to score another try in the corner.
St Helens mounted a strong effort to push Wigan back in the closing stages, with Hook forcing her way over through sheer determination. However, with Gaskin missing all of her conversion attempts from wide positions, as did Isobel Rowe for Wigan, it was not enough to stop the Warriors.
Wigan Warriors boss Denis Betts told BBC Radio Manchester:
“In the first half, it was evident that we were nervous and hesitant. The feeling we carried to Wembley was absent, and we became a bit apprehensive. However, we are a very young side.
“The consistency displayed this year, considering the group’s age, has been outstanding. I didn’t anticipate them competing at this level.
“The exciting aspect is that they have learned from this experience. They now know how to persevere and win a game, and it doesn’t always require flashy plays. It can be about sheer hard work, which we have demonstrated a few times this year.
“Our current position is a true testament to the group itself, as it is a remarkably young one.”
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