LINDSAY Anfield hopes that York Valkyrie will use their lengthy break to toughen up ahead of the second half of the campaign.

The reigning champions currently sit fourth in the Betfred Women’s Super League table, behind rivals St Helens, Wigan Warriors and Leeds Rhinos on points difference only.

Despite opening their title defence with a nail-biting 20-16 victory against Saints, Anfield’s side suffered their first Women’s Super League defeat since July 2021 at home to the Rhinos and were dealt a 32-2 thrashing by Matty Smith’s Merseysiders in their Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup semi-final at Doncaster six days later.

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York are undoubtedly feeling the effects of being without captain, and reigning Woman of Steel, Sinead Peach – who announced her pregnancy earlier this year – whilst full-back Tara Jane Stanley has also been a huge loss over recent weeks, with a bout of norovirus and knee niggle limiting her game time so far in 2024.

The versatile Georgie Hetherington (AC Joint issue), Tamzin Renouf (elbow), Rhiannion Marshall (knee) and Kelsey Gentles (knee) all missed their 44-4 triumph against Warrington Wolves nine days ago, whilst young forward Jess Sharp limped off during the second half.

And the director of rugby admits the five-week break her side faces could not have come at a better time.

“It’s definitely come at a good time for us,” Anfield told The Press. “We can get some bodies back and give a few people who have got knocks and niggles a bit of recuperation time.

“But as well, we want to make sure that we’re training hard so that we’re ready for the second half of the season.” 

Full-back Tara Jane Stanley has been a notable loss for the Valkyrie over recent weeks.Full-back Tara Jane Stanley has been a notable loss for the Valkyrie over recent weeks. (Image: Alan Milner/Milner Creative/York RLFC)

The Valkyrie will return to action against Barrow Raiders on July 7 (12pm) in what will be another double header, with York Knights taking on their Craven Park counterparts later that afternoon (3pm).

They will then host newly promoted Featherstone Rovers, who they defeated in both the Challenge Cup group stages and quarter-finals, before facing off against fellow high-fliers Wigan Warriors and St Helens in the space of 10 days.

A midweek trip to the four-time Challenge Cup holders has already begun to throw up problems with some players’ work schedules, but Anfield is hopeful her side will provide a winning start to her birthday celebrations the following day.

As for how she plans to use the break to fire up her squad for the second half of the campaign, the Valkyrie boss revealed: “We probably haven’t been as tough or as composed as we were last year.

“So we’re going to use these five weeks to get back in full training three times a week, almost like a bit of a mini pre-season.

“That will really get some intensity back into the training and get us back to where we want to be come the end of the year.”