Eva Hunter's late try helped Wigan salvage a draw against St Helens Wigan stayed top of Women's Super League as they fought back to draw with closest challengers St Helens in a thrilling top-of-the-table contest. Eva Hunter's late try helped Warriors to a 22-22 draw, which extended their unbeaten start to the season. It keeps the leaders one point ahead of second-placed Saints, who narrowly failed to avenge theirChallenge Cup final hammeringat the hands of Wigan. Elsewhere on Sunday, York Valkyrie moved back above Leeds into third with a 70-0 demolition of winless Warrington, while Huddersfield kept pace with the top four with a 32-12 win at second-bottom Barrow. Warriors had hammered Saints 42-6 in a one-sided Wembley final just three weeks earlier, but this meeting of the division's two remaining unbeaten sides proved a real arm-wrestle. Dani McGifford and Chantelle Crowl put Saints 12-0 up early on before Georgia Wilson halved the deficit, but Vicky Whitfield gave the visitors a third try to go in 16-6 up at the interval. Wigan hit back through Grace Banks and Anna Davies to level before the midway point of the second half, but Luci McColm kicked a penalty and then went over with 12 minutes left to restore Saints' six-point lead. Back came the Warriors though, as Hunter raced in and Isabel Rowe's goal made it all square before Rowe's late attempt at a drop goal fell short. Second-bottom Barrow hit the front against Huddersfield when Leah Clough replied to Tilly Davies' early score, but two tries from Amelia Brown and another from Mollie Iceton sent the Giants in 20-6 up at the break. Nicole Stewart converted her own try to cut the gap to eight points, but hopes of a comeback were extinguished by Iceton's second and a Lois Naidole score. Basement side Warrington had shipped 196 points without reply in their previous two fixtures and trailed defending champions York 30-0 at the break, as Evie Sexton, Emma Kershaw (2), Tamzin Renouf and Savannah Andrade all crossed. Valkyrie added seven more second-half tries at Victoria Park. Sexton and Renouf both crossed again, while there were also scores for T'Leesha Frederick-Maynard, Izzy Bibby (2), Tara Moxon and Ellie Williamson, who also kicked 11 goals.
Wigan stay top after thrilling draw with St Helens
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Wigan Warriors Maintain League Lead After Dramatic Draw with St Helens"
Bbc News
8.7
TruthLens AI Summary
In a gripping encounter in the Women's Super League, Wigan Warriors managed to maintain their position at the top of the league table by securing a dramatic 22-22 draw against their closest rivals, St Helens. The match featured a late try from Eva Hunter, which allowed Wigan to equalize after trailing for much of the game. St Helens initially took control with early tries from Dani McGifford and Chantelle Crowl, establishing a 12-0 lead. Although Wigan's Georgia Wilson managed to score and narrow the gap, Vicky Whitfield's try for St Helens pushed the visitors ahead to a 16-6 advantage by halftime. The Warriors responded robustly in the second half, leveling the score through tries from Grace Banks and Anna Davies. However, Luci McColm's penalty and subsequent try for St Helens once again put them ahead by six points before Hunter's crucial late score ensured that Wigan remained unbeaten this season, preserving their one-point lead over St Helens in the standings.
Elsewhere in the league, York Valkyrie displayed an impressive performance by demolishing Warrington 70-0, allowing them to reclaim third place in the league from Leeds. The match saw multiple tries from players like Evie Sexton and Emma Kershaw, contributing to a commanding victory. Meanwhile, Huddersfield Giants also kept pace with the top teams by defeating Barrow 32-12. Barrow initially took the lead in their match, but Huddersfield quickly regained control with a series of tries from Amelia Brown and Mollie Iceton, sealing their victory in the second half. As the season progresses, Wigan's resilience in tough matches and the strong performances from teams like York and Huddersfield highlight the competitive nature of the league, making for an exciting season ahead.
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