PAPUA NEW Guinea star Tara Moxon scored two tries as Leeds became the RFL’s second-ever women’s Nines champions.
Up-and-coming Wigan eliminated defending champions York in the semi-finals, leaving two of the British game’s most famous names to battle out the final at Salford City Stadium.
The Warriors and Rhinos could not be separated during the group stages but the Rhinos got off to the better start in the decider, eventually winning 21-8.
Player of the match was Izzy Northrop. It’s the second time prize-money has been offered in women’s rugby league in Britain.
Second semi-final: Wigan 12 York 4
The holders were dramatically knocked out by fast-improving Wigan, for whom Mary Coleman, Molly Jones and Kerry Evans scored tries. Bettie Lambert gave York a sniff with a late try but then Beri Salihi pulled off a great ball-and-all in-goal tackle to deny the champions another. The teams who drew earlier, Wigan and Leeds, meet in the final.
First semi-final: Leeds 14 St Helens 4
Izzy Northrop scored two tries as the Rhinos opened up a 14-0 lead with Irene McDonald crossing for Saints late. In an exciting finish, St Helens ran out of time to add to their total.
Group B: St Helens 16 Cardiff 8
A try-saving tackle on their own line with 90 seconds left, followed by a breakaway try, was what got St Helens home in this surprisingly close game. Cardiff improved immeasurably on their first outing to give glamour club Saints an almighty fright.
Group A Wigan 33 Warrington 0
Anna Davis scored two first half tries as improving Wigan showed themselves to be too strong for an inexperienced Warrington. Among the six tries was also a double for Molly Jones.
Group B: York 23 Cardiff 0
Play was delayed while York’s Georgie Hetherington was carried off in the first half. She had just fallen over the line from less than a metre out to score without a hand laid on her. Well-marked against St Helens, Tara-Jane Stanley ran riot in this tie with four tries and a conversion.
Group A: Wigan 14 Leeds 14
A last minute try from Leeds’ Kaiya Glyn secured an exciting draw in a match which started with Wigan shocking Leeds. The Rhinos certainly had a tough time of it against a Warriors side for which Beri Salihi posted a try brace.
Group B: York 11 St Helens 10
Phoebe Hook scored a late converted try for St Helens to set up a grandstand finish. Defending champions York started strongly to open up an 11-0 lead. Tara Stanley was kept in check by Saints but the Valkyrie had some anxious moments at the end.
Group A: Leeds 36 Warrington 0
A merciless performance from the Rhinos to open proceeding. PNG international Tara Moxon scored the first try of the carnival and was hard to stop throughout. It was 22-0 at halftime. Warrington improved after the break, making a few breaks.
Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix
