YORK Valkyrie continued their perfect start to the Betfred Women’s Super League season with a 26-6 victory over St Helens at the LNER Community Stadium yesterday afternoon.

Tamzin Renouf bagged a second-half brace while Hollie-Mae Dodd earned the Player of the Match award ahead of her blockbuster move to Canberra Raiders, in which she becomes the first English woman to sign a professional deal down under.

York, who beat Leeds Rhinos 34-12 in their season opener in front of a record crowd at Headingley last weekend, were forced to come from behind following a strong start from St Helens.

The visitors edged ahead courtesy of Leah Burke who crossed for the opening try in the ninth minute. Matty Smith’s side were able to work the ball out wide from the scrum, with Rebecca Rotherham releasing Burke down the left side.

York gradually worked their way back into the contest with Emma Kershaw adding their first four points after showing great footwork to evade two St Helens players before powering over the whitewash in the 18th minute.

With 25 minutes on the clock, York took the lead for the first time in the match thanks to an impressive try from Dodd, who marked what will likely be her last Valkyrie appearance with a try.

The NRLW-bound star picked up possession 10 metres out and skipped her way past the Saints defence, with Tara Jane Stanley converting to give her side a four-point advantage.

In the second half, both teams showed attacking intent, though the fans were forced to wait until the 60th minute before seeing the next try.

Fortunately for the Valkyrie faithful, it was Renouf who found the line, after collecting Dodd’s offload to burst forward through a gap in the defence down the right flank.

And things got better for York minutes later, with Rhiannion Marshall showing fantastic agility to extend their lead.

The loose forward produced a deadly show-and-go before crashing under the sticks, Stanley’s third and final conversion making the scoreline 22-6.

As they had last weekend, York added to their tally in the dying minutes, Renouf crashing over for the pick of the tries two minutes before the final hooter.

The centre was again given the freedom of the right wing, as she produced her own dummy before sprinting 40 metres down the flank unchallenged and touching down over the whitewash.

Stanley’s kick sailed wide, though it was York who celebrated a memorable 26-6 victory, their biggest over St Helens in the modern Super League era.

YORK VALKYRIE: Stanley, Hendry, Renouf, Kershaw, Hyde, Dodd, Gale, Wood, Peach, Staveley, Owen, Andrade, Staveley, Marshall

INTERCHANGES: Taylor, Bell, Field, Hetherington, Smith

TRIES: Kershaw (19), Dodd (25), Renouf (60, 78), Marshall (66)

GOALS: Stanley 3/5

ST HELENS: Rotherham, McGifford, Partington, Williams, Burke, Harris, Taylor, Hoyle, Jones, Crowl, Bridge, Rudge, Cunningham

INTERCHANGES: Whitfield, Mottershead, Scott, Birchall, Williams

TRIES: Burke (9)

GOALS: Taylor (1/1)

YORK’S STAR WOMAN: Hollie-Mae Dodd.

REFEREE: Elliot Burrow