York Valkyrie finish unbeaten after 60-4 rout of Huddersfield Giants

A hat-trick from former St Helens centre Carrie Roberts and braces from both Sade Rihari and Georgie Hetherington contributed the majority of that scoreline, with Rhiannion Marshall, Jas Bell, Tara Jane Stanley and Savannah Andrade also crossing the whitewash for Lindsay Anfield’s table-toppers.

Despite the match coinciding with York Knights’ clash against Bradford Bulls at Odsal, the Valkyrie were backed by a large crowd in North Yorkshire, who were rewarded with an utterly dominant performance before they lifted a historic second consecutive League Leaders’ Shield.

Huddersfield winger Emilia Brown, whom Anfield had warned would be dangerous earlier in the week, provided the only blot on an otherwise outstanding afternoon for York, crossing shortly after the break before being sent off inside the final minute.

Prior to the showpiece event, the Valkyrie’s Under 19s made an excellent bow at the city’s Stadium, overturning a 10-point deficit before holding off a late fightback to claim a 22-20 victory over the much-fancied Wigan Warriors.

Anfield made four changes from the side that sealed the League Leaders’ Shield with victory at Wigan three weeks ago, with Emma Kershaw, Liv Gale, Jess Sharp and Jas Bell all handed starts.

Aimee Staveley, Marshall and Ashleigh Hyde dropped to the bench in their places, whilst Lacey Owen remained sidelined with a hand injury.

York made a blistering start in the North Yorkshire sunshine, taking the lead after just two minutes when Hetherington collected Stanley’s offload to dive over into the right corner.

Stanley was wrapped up just short of the line but it didn’t take long for the Valkyrie to extend their advantage, Bell charging across from Sinead Peach’s short pass 10 minutes later, Stanley scoring the first of seven successful conversions.

Georgie Hetherington opened the scoring just two minutes into the encounter. (Image: Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com)

Such was the hosts’ dominance, Huddersfield struggled to get out of their own half, conceding a further twice before the half reached its midway point.

Having won a repeat set inside the Giants’ 10-metre line, Stanley fed Hetherington to complete her brace before half-back Rihari cut her way through the defensive line to cross down the right edge.

Stanley converted the latter but not the former, giving her side a 22-point lead with as many minutes on the clock.

The scoring spree though continued, interchange Marshall scoring with her first carry from Liv Gale’s grubber before centre Roberts raced clear from 30 metres to score.

Reigning Woman of Steel Stanley finished the half with two drop-goals from in front of the posts, Anfield’s side taking an ominous 32-point lead in at the interval.

Despite the win having all but slipped from their grasp during the first half, Huddersfield drew first blood after the break, the Valkyrie paying the price for conceding a scrum and then a six-again on their 20-metre line as Brown found space to cross down the right edge to put her side on the scoresheet four minutes after the restart.

But normal service resumed for the Valkyrie almost instantaneously, Stanley producing a trademark step and weaving through the Giants’ defence before converting her effort.

Second-rower Andrade was the next to add her name to the scoresheet after crossing beneath the posts before Hetherington thought that she had her third, only to see her acrobatic attempt ruled out by the referee.

Instead it was Roberts who completed her hat-trick in five devastating minutes, first finishing a sublime move on the right edge and then collecting Hetherington’s offload from another Valkyrie scrum.

Former St Helens centre Carrie Roberts crossed for a hat-trick. (Image: Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com)

Stanley’s conversion struck the woodwork but it mattered little, Rihari wrapping up the scoring with a stunning solo try after nobody was able to get a hand to her as she weaved through the Huddersfield defence from 20 metres.

However, there was late drama on the hooter, Brown turning from hero to villain for the visitors as a late shot on Hetherington saw her handed a straight red card in the final play of the game.

Another fantastic display from the Valkyrie, which sees them finish the regular season unbeaten ahead of their play-off against Wigan Warriors at the LNER Community Stadium on Saturday, September 23 (3:30pm).

YORK VALKYRIE: Stanley, Kershaw, Renouf, Roberts, Hetherington, Rihari, Gale, Akpa, Peach, Sharp, Andrade, Wood, Bell.

INTERCHANGES: Staveley, Marshall, Hyde, Sanderson.

TRIES: Hetherington (2, 15), Bell (12), Rihari (20, 77), Marshall (23), Stanley (47), Roberts (29, 64, 69), Andrade (53).

GOALS: Stanley 7/11

DROP-GOALS: Stanley (33, 35)

HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS: Curley, Coates, Preston, Arrowsmith, Brown, Townend, Grady, Armstrong, Millward, Wilkinson, Thompson, Naidole, Fisher.

INTERCHANGES: Morgan, Barker, Simister, Da Silva

TRIES: Brown (44)

GOALS: Thompson 0/1

RED CARDS: Brown (80)