Betfred Women’s Super League Round 8

Saturday 19 July 2025 (2:30pm)

Totally Wicked Stadium

St Helens 80-0 Leigh Leopards

 

Leopards Women suffered their heaviest defeat as a talented and clinical Saints side scored at a point a minute at the Totally Wicked Stadium.

 

Packed with internationals, Saints play a refreshing open style of football and ruthlessly exploit any weaknesses in the visitors’ defence. They scored 15 tries in total and ran the Leopards ragged at times.

 

Saints took the lead in the third minute, as Dani McGifford crossed the line in the left corner.

 

Rachael Woosey then scored Saints’ second try of the afternoon after successfully gathering McGifford’s offload. 

 

Derek Hardman and Craig Richards’ side subsequently established a 16-0 lead when McGifford scored her second try, which was converted by Luci McColm.

 

Saints then found their fourth try through Darcy Stott, who crossed the line after the Leopards initially did well to hold Katie Mottershead up on the line.

 

The hosts attempted to make their pressure count once again, however the Leigh pack combined well to hold Stott up on the last, forcing a restart. 

 

However, Beri Salihi soon went over the line, after running from the centre to the right corner, before Hollie Bawden added another try for St Helens.

 

The Leopards pack soon stood firm, with Rebecca Greenfield completing a try-saving tackle on McGifford.

 

Leigh’s defence then did well to hold Vicky Whitfield up on the line, before the Leopards enjoyed a brief spell of pressure, but Abby Latchford was forced to kick on the last just shy of halfway.

 

Kieron Purtill’s side then came close to scoring on the stroke of half-time, but the ball bounced unkindly and out of play as Toryn Blackwood attempted to gather Amy Taylor’s high-kick on the last. 

 

St Helens held a 30-0 half-time lead.

 

Saints found their first score of the second half in the 46th minute, through McColm on the right edge before Georgia Sutherland’s score soon added to the hosts’ lead. 

 

The hosts then showed quick hands down the left edge, as McGifford secured her hat-trick.

 

Katie Mottershead would then score a solo try, which McColm converted to take St Helens to the 50-point mark with just shy of an hour gone on the clock.

 

Saints captain Jodie Cunningham added a further score for the hosts, after Taylor’s kick on the last was gathered by St Helens.  

 

Phoebe Hook scored two tries in quick succession for the hosts, with the latter arriving on the breakaway after Leopards had enjoyed a spell of possession in the Saints half.

 

Leopards soon got themselves to within 10 metres of the St Helens line, as Hannah Roberts was tackled on the last following Taylor’s high kick. 

 

Saints ended the afternoon with a late score from McColm and Woosey, with McColm’s conversions ensuring they reached the 80-point mark.

St Helens 

 

Beri Salihi; Dani McGifford, Rachael Woosey, Luci McColm, Rebecca Rotheram; Jodie Cunningham, Caitlin Casey, Erin Mcdonald, Katie Mottershead, Darcy Stott, Emily Rudge, Hollie Bawden, Naomi Williams 

 

Interchanges

 

Phoebe Hook, Vicky Whitfield, Georgia Sutherland, Caitlin Mayor

 

18th player

 

Mia Drescher 

 

Tries: McGifford (3, 14, 53), Woosey (6), Stott (18), Salihi (25), Bawden (29) , McColm (46, 73), Sutherland (49), Mottershead (57), Cunningham (63), Hook (65, 69), Woosey (79)

 

Goals: McColm 10/15

 

Leigh Leopards 

 

Rebecca Greenfield; Toryn Blackwood, Rhianna Burke, Storm Cobain, Abi Johnston; Amy Taylor, Emma Knowles; Eleanor Dainty, Kate Howard, Lucy Johnson, Keli Morris, Hannah Roberts, Abigail Latchford

 

Interchanges

 

Alice Fisher, Grace Hill, Abi Gordon, Emily Baggaley

 

18th player

 

Maddie Higson

 

Referee

O Salmon

Touch judges

A Hawley & C Meredith

 

Penalty count: 2-2

 

Scoring sequence: 4-0, 10-0, 16-0, 22-0, 26-0, 30-0 (ht) 34-0, 40-0, 44-0, 50-0, 56-0, 62-0, 68-0, 74-0, 80-0