BWSL: Round 7 Round Up

Leeds Rhinos finished the regular season with a 56-10 victory that ended Huddersfield Giants' hopes of making the cut for the top four of the Betfred Women’s Super League.

The Giants began the day knowing a win at Laund Hill and defeat for York Valkyrie away to bottom club Barrow Raiders would see them join Wigan Warriors, Leeds and St Helens in the extended top-four play-off series.

That hope was quashed in the opening nine minutes as Leeds took control through tries from Lucy Murray, Liv Whitehead and Kaiya Glynn, all converted by Mel Howard.

Tries from Becky Grady and Faye Barraclough, either side of a Connie Boyd score for Leeds, brought some hope to the home side, but the Rhinos ran away with the game as Shannon Brown crashed over and Boyd scored her second to make it 34-10 at half-time.

Leeds continued their dominance in the second half as Lois Naidole scored a try against her former club, Evie Cousins marked her return to action with two more, and Whitehead scored her own second to secure second place for Rhinos and condemn Giants to the bottom four play-offs.

York were far too strong for Barrow, beating them 44-12.

Tries from Petra Woods, Amelie Lenham, Izzy Bibby (2), Agnes Wood and Adaoha Akwiwu all but ensured that vital fourth place for Valkyrie by half time.

Brooke Henderson added two more early in the second half before Lucy Dickinson struck back for the Raiders.

Woods and Akwiwu both added their own second tries, before Leah Clough's try at least ensured Barrow, who have lost all seven of their regular-season fixtures, reached double figures.

On Saturday, leaders Wigan Warriors ran in 12 tries as they thrashed struggling Featherstone Rovers 70-10 to maintain their 100% record this season.

Anna Davies scored a hat-trick, while Eva Hunter's brace, plus tries from Remi Wilton, Georgia Wilson, Elara Llewellyn-Sharrock, Cerys Jones, Ellise Derbyshire, Beri Salihi and Grace Banks completed the rout.

Dani Waters scored and converted for Featherstone, while Shavon Craven crossed for a late conversion.

Isabel Rowe was in superb form with the boot for Wigan, converting 11 of the 12 tries.

Elsewhere, St Helens also racked up a try count into double figures as they eased past Leigh Leopards 58-6 at the Brewdog Stadium to stay third.

Phoebe Hook and Olivia Leach both scored hat-tricks on a damaging afternoon for the Leopards, who sit sixth.

Jodie Cunningham (2), Dani McGifford, Vicky Whitfield and Paige Travis also crossed, with Faye Gaskin converting seven of the 11 tries.

Betfred Women's Super League Round 7 results:

Huddersfield Giants 10 Leeds Rhinos 56

Barrow Raiders 12 York Valkyrie 44

Wigan Warriors 70 Featherstone Rovers 10

St Helens 58 Leigh Leopards 6