Wigan clinch treble with Grand Final win over Saints

Betfred Women’s Super League Grand Final

Wigan Warriors (4) 16

Tries: Davies 2, Jones 2

St. Helens (8) 12

Wigan Warriors won their first treble in the women’s game by coming from behind to beat St. Helens in the Grand Final at the Brick Community Stadium.

In front of a record crowd of 5, 018, Saints looked set to upset the odds at half-time, after tries from Dani McGifford and Phoebe Hook answered Anna Davies ‘ opener for the Warriors, who had already secured the Challenge Cup and League Leaders ‘ Shield.

After the break, however, Wigan stepped up a gear, with Molly Jones going over for two tries in the space of five minutes to turn the game on its head before Davies raced away for her second to give Wigan breathing space.

Saints were underdogs going into the game after being hammered 42-6 at Wembley in June, but the way they bounced back in Super League to earn a 22-22 draw and then narrowly lose 24-20 to push Wigan all the way indicated that this would be a tough encounter for both, and so it proved.

Wigan’s dangerous backs were up against Saints ‘ powerhouse pack, and that led to a tight, tense first half in which both sides defended with discipline and determination.

Grace Banks was denied an opening try for Wigan when a video review spotted an obstruction in the build-up, and then Rebecca Rotheram’s fine tackle stopped Jenna Foubister racing clear as Saints were on the back foot.

Winger Davies kept up her record of scoring in every game against Saints this season, bursting through two would-be tacklers and going over in the corner, but it was all square when Banks spilled a Faye Gaskin high bomb and Saints quickly moved it left to give McGifford her 20th try of the Super League season.

Saints took a half-time lead when they again shifted the ball quickly and Hook went over in the corner.

Wigan were facing only their second defeat of the season but reacted like champions, forcing Saints into a goal-line drop-out and then quickly shifting it left for Jones to level the score.

Five minutes later, Jones put in a repeat, scooting over after more slick handling and as the Saints defence tired the pace and power of Davies proved too much as the England player stormed down the right to score another in the corner.

Wigan Warriors boss Denis Betts told BBC Radio Manchester:

“You could tell in the first half we looked nervy and edgy in our halves. You might recall that the first half saw that the first half had been taken away from the team that went to Wembley, and that we started to feel a little uneasy because we are a very young side.

“This year has been outstanding in terms of consistency given the group’s age.” They didn’t expect to be as good as they were.

The exciting thing is that they have learned from this, and they are aware of how to dig in and win a game. It can be as simple as working hard, which we have done a few times this year.