Castleford Tigers are the early front runners in the Women’s Super League following a 14-36 victory over the 2018 champions Wigan Warriors, with Tara Stanley notching a hat-trick.
Sinead Peach opened the scoring for the Tigers before Stanley crossed for her first of the afternoon. The Warriors did fightback midway through the first half with two tries in quick succession with Alison Burrows and Gemma Walsh both scoring.
However, it was Castleford who went into the break ahead as Lacey Owen and Georgia Roche scored in the final ten minutes of the half to give the Tigers a ten-point lead. Georgie Hetherington then got the Tigers up and running in the second half.
Walsh’s second for Wigan after 67 minutes gave Wigan a glimmer of hope, but Stanley completed her hat-trick with two tries inside four minutes during the closing stages of the game to ensure the Tigers top the table after Round Two.
Leeds Rhinos also maintained their 100% start to the 2019 Women’s Super League season with a 16-24 win at Featherston Rovers. Elle Frain was the star of the show scoring a hat-trick for the Rhinos.
Tasha Gaines got Leeds off to the perfect start as she burrowed over from acting halfback. Rovers drew level thanks to Katie Hepworth, but Frain would score twice before half-time with each coming on the back of some clever play from Sophie Robinson.
Just eight minutes after half-time, Frain would complete her hat-trick before Danielle Anderson went over to further the hosts advantage. Andrea Dobson and Brogan Kennedy both scored for Featherstone to set up a tight finish however Leeds’ Hanna Butcher would wrap the game up for the Rhinos four minutes from time.
Wakefield Trinity edged out York City Knights to earn their first victory of the 2019 Women’s Super League. An Erica Zanre try put Trinity ahead for half-time and Chloe Billington would extend Wakefield’s lead after the interval. Bev Langan crossed for York, but they couldn’t quite muster a comeback.
Stanningley, Leigh Miners Rangers and Huddersfield Giants all made it two from two in the Women’s Championship. Leigh Miners were the big winners overcoming Hull FC, 30-0. Stanningley earned a convincing 28-4 victory over Barrow and Huddersfield beat Oulton Raidettes 28-10. Warrington Wolves got their season off to a winning start against local rivals Widnes Vikings, 40-10.
Hull Kingston Rovers top Women’s League One following a 40-8 win over Rochdale Hornets. Keighley Albion beat Halifax 40-24 while Whitley Bar Barbarians got off the mark with a narrow 24-22 win against Wigan St Patricks.
