YORK Valkyrie celebrated their historic second consecutive Betfred Women’s Super League title with a parade last night.

Lindsay Anfield’s side rode an open-top bus before making their ways to St Helen's Square to receive a civic reception, and heading to the Hooting Owl to celebrate with the club’s supporters.

Having had their first taste of Grand Final glory last year, the Valkyrie became the first team to win back-to-back Women’s Super League titles against all the odds with an 18-8 victory at St Helens last month.

Winger-turned-prop Kelsey Gentles fittingly scored the winning try as York turned around an 8-6 half-time deficit, with Georgie Hetherington earning the Player of the Match for the second successive year after excelling in a hybrid role of full-back in defence and hooker in attack.

The following week, Hetherington also became the third consecutive Valkyrie player, and the first mum, to win the Woman of Steel.

At points questioning whether they would even make the play-offs, York’s achievements were all the more remarkable, with captain Sinead Peach missing the entire season through her pregnancy, and key figures in Tara Jane Stanley, Tamzin Renouf, Liv Gale, Rhiannion Marshall and Lacey Owen also spending time on the sidelines.

The Valkyrie rode on board the bus from Union Terrace Coach Park to Duncombe Place, making plenty of noise for the supporters gathered along the route, and a number of unsuspecting Christmas Market visitors who also embraced the celebrations.

When they disembarked, the first to greet them were influential full-back Stanley, who sustained an ACL injury in York’s win at Leeds Rhinos in September, and centre  Renouf.

Led by the beat of assistant Will Dagger, and young fan Warren on the club’s supporters’ drums, the Valkyrie’s celebrations continued through the streets to St Helen’s Square where they were greeted by Town Crier Ben Fry on the Mansion House steps.

“Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! Hear my call with title-winning news for one and all!” he proclaimed to the group of supporters in attendance.

“York, please put your hands together for the two-time Women’s Super League Grand Final winners, York Valkyrie!”

The players, alongside chairman Clint Goodchild, then headed inside for a richly deserved civic reception before celebrating into the night with the club’s fans.

The Press caught up with some supporters after the parade, with one saying: “It’s fantastic that they’ve become the first team to win back-to-back titles with everything this year.”

Another added: “They really should receive more recognition, and I’m glad to see them starting to receive the coverage that they deserve.”