Women

BWSL: Round 5 Round Up

23 Jun 2025

Wigan Warriors thrashed Leigh Leopards 60-6 to extend their unbeaten start and return to the top of the Betfred Women's Super League.

Denis Betts' side easily overcame the Leopards, who started the day fourth in the table, to make it five wins out of five in the league.

Wigan scored 11 tries, including a hat-trick from Grace Banks, whilst the visitors could only muster one at the Robin Park Arena.

Struggling with Wigan's physicality, Leigh conceded tries to Tiana Power, Anna Davies and Mia Atherton, plus second scores from Hunter and Banks to make it 38-0 at the break.

The Leopards got their first points on the board soon after the restart through Katie Howard.

But it proved mere consolation as Georgia Wilson responded for Wigan, crossing over in the corner for the hosts' eighth try.

Davies and Atherton then scored their second tries, while Banks completed her hat-trick with seconds left.

Reigning champions York Valkyrie withstood a second-half Huddersfield Giants comeback to snatch a late 24-20 win and keep their hopes of defending their title intact.

York needed a late try from Sinead Peach to win at Huddersfield after an impressive comeback from the Giants.

It looked like it was going to be a straightforward afternoon for the champions when they led 18-4 at the break through tries from Tamzin Renouf, Zoe Hornby and Jas Bell, with Amelia Brown responding for the Giants.

However, Huddersfield cut York's lead with further tries from Bethan Oates and Fran Copley, before Brown got her second to give the hosts the lead.

But with three minutes left, Peach went over to put Valkyrie back in front, with Rhiannion Marshall adding the extras.

Leeds Rhinos romped to a 66-4 win over Barrow, scoring 12 unanswered tries after the Raiders had opened the scoring in the first minute.

The Rhinos fell behind to Barrow when Vanessa Temple scored in the first minute but after that it was one-way traffic for the third-placed Rhinos as Ebony Stead ran in four tries and Sophie Nuttall scored a hat-trick.

Evie Cousins, Frankie Blakey, Ella Donnelly, Connie Boyd and Liv Whitehead also crossed for dominant Leeds.

On Saturday, Jodie Cunningham and Dani McGifford both scored hat-tricks as St Helens thrashed bottom side Warrington Wolves 86-0 to go top of the Women's Super League.

Eight first-half tries, including a brace from Emily Rudge plus scores from Amy Hardcastle, Beri Salihi, Rachael Woosey, McGifford, Phoebe Hook and Erin Stott, meant the game was won by half-time.

McGifford and Cunningham both completed their trebles after the break, along with further tries from Salihi, Caitlin Casey, Faye Gaskin and Shona Hoyle.

It means Saints, who are a point clear of Wigan, are still unbeaten with four wins and a draw this season, while Warrington have lost every match so far.