Warrington Wolves Women 0 Leeds Rhinos Women 88

By Sam Brocksom

Lois Forsell’s side put out an impressive seventeen try display over Warrington Wolves as they secured their second win of the 2023 Betfred Women’s Super League season. The Rhinos ran out 88-0 winners at Victoria Park, which included four tries for Amy Hardcastle and a hat trick for Caitlin Casey. 

The Rhinos started strongly, with Sophie Robinson crossing for the first try after two minutes. Her centre partner Caitlin Beevers and prop forward Izzy Northrop also crossed in the opening 10, and a Caitlin Casey conversion gave Leeds a 14-0 lead.

Back-to-back tries from Sophie Nuttall and Amy Hardcastle increased the Rhinos first half onslaught. Casey was on target for Hardcastle’s try as the pressure mounted up on the home side.

Second tries for Beevers and Hardcastle increased the Rhinos lead to 24 and the Rhinos were in total control. Beth Lockwood pounced on a kick into the in-goal to score her sixth try of the season and a hat trick try for Hardcastle, which included a 40-metre break put the game to bed despite just 35 minutes on the clock.

Two converted tries in just five minutes of magic from Casey rounded off the half and gave the Rhinos a 56-0 lead. The first try, she received an offload from Beevers who broke free after running a great line ball. The second, a lovely show-and-go that fooled the defence and allowed for an easy finish.

The Rhinos didn’t let up in the second half however, and scored a further six tries to seal the victory. Casey was again involved for the first try of the second stanza as she produced a great offload close to the line, allowing Zoe Hornby to crash over. The try was quickly converted.

A second try for Izzy Northrop came less than five minutes later as she gathered a dropped ball by Warrington to claim an easy four-pointer. Casey on target again from the boot.

Much like Casey’s efforts just before the half time whistle, Jasmine Earnshaw-Cudjoe produced two brilliant tries in as many minutes, running from dummy half and capitalising on a tired defence to break the line and score. Sam Hulme took over the kicking duties and slotted over both conversions.

The final two tries came from Hardcastle, who added her fourth, and Casey, who grabbed her well-deserved hat trick.  A powerful run and fend off from the back rower, leaving defenders on the floor, allowed Hardcastle to score in the left corner. Hulme unable to convert. Casey then took on the line herself and spotted a gap to slide over, capping off a resounding 88-0 victory.

Leeds:

Nuttall, Robinson, Beevers, Butcher, Enright, Casey, Greening, Hornby, Bennett, Northrop, Hardcastle, Frain, Glynn. Subs: Hulme, Earnshaw-Cudjoe, Lockwood, Gaines.

Tries: Hardcastle x4, Casey x3, Beevers x2, Earnshaw-Cudjoe x2, Northrop x2, Hornby, Robinson, Nuttall, Lockwood

Goals: Casey 8/13, Hulme 2/4