Leeds Rhinos Women 68 Barrow Raiders Ladies 0

By Sam Brocksom

Leeds Rhinos Women head to Wembley on a high after an emphatic 68-0 victory over Barrow Raiders!

Five tries from Izzy Northrop formed part of the 13 scored in total, in what takes the Rhinos to the top of the Betfred Women’s Super League table.

Lois Forsell made four changes after the defeat to St Helens, who they face next week in the capital. Caitlin Beevers, Grace Field and Zoe Hornby were all rested, giving valuable minutes to Beth Macmillan, Elychia Watson and a debut for Grace Short. Bethan Dainton also returned after picking up a knock that forced her to miss last week.

The Rhinos put their foot down early, scoring three times in the opening ten minutes. First, after Barrow couldn’t take in the kickoff, Lucy Murray powered over on the opening set. Two minutes later, Evie Cousins finished off a move down the right edge. Ella Donnelly completed the trio of tries in spectacular fashion, breaking the defensive line on her own forty before sprinting away and rounding the full back to score under the posts. Keara Bennett only managed to convert the latter of the three tries meaning the scores were 14-0 after ten gone.

A double from Izzy Northrop came next, the first another long-range try, scoring from forty metres out. The second was much more simple - going over easily under the sticks after a short ball from Bennett. The hooker added both conversions increasing Leeds’ lead to 26.

Two more tries from the Rhinos saw off the first half. Murray got her second of the match and tenth of the season after powering over on the right edge as she does so often. The final try came from Caitlin Casey, who produced a dummy to fool the defence and create a gap for her to cross. Neither try was converted, leaving Leeds 34-0 up at the break.

Leeds took a little longer to break the second half deadlock than they did the first. We had to wait ten minutes before Northrop got her hat-trick try. The prop took in an offload from Casey who managed to break the tackle and give Northrop try number three. With Bennett off the field, kicking duties went to Liv Whitehead who added the extras.

Bella Sykes was next to add her name to the afternoon’s try-scorers. After being held up in the first half, the hooker would not be stopped a second time, crashing over under the posts. Whitehead added the conversion before a debut try for Grace Short received a standing ovation from the Headingley crowd. The second rower was too strong for the Barrow defence and powered her way over and giving Leeds a 50-0 scoreline.

Leeds never took their foot off the gas despite the scoreline. Three tries in the final ten minutes saw off a convincing victory. Beth MacMillan got over for her first try in Leeds colours before Northrop’s fourth and fifth rounded off the game. The prop was in the right place at the right time on both occasions as she took offloads close to the line to double her try tally for the season in one game! The final three tries were all converted by Whitehead, leaving the final scores 68-0 to the Rhinos.

The Rhinos now head to Wembley to face St Helens in the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final.

Leeds: Whitehead, Moxon, Robinson, Hardcastle, Cousins, Butcher, Casey, Sykes, Bennett, Northrop, Watson, Murray, Donnelly. Subs: Lockwood, MacMillan, Greening, Short.

Tries: Northrop x5, Murray x2, Casey, Cousins, Donnelly, Sykes, Macmillan, Short.