Betfred Women’s Super League Grand Final

Wigan (6) 6

Try: Atherton Goal: Rowe

York (8) 8

Try: Peach Goals: Williamson 2

York Valkyrie became the first side to win the Women’s Super League three times after an incredible defensive effort thwarted Wigan Warriors at the Brick Community Stadium.

Under siege for much of a scoreless second half, York stood firm to claim a surprise win over the favourites.

Teenager Amelie Lenham, the player of the match, led the way with a series of crucial interventions as a first-half try from Sinead Peach, plus two goals from Ellie Williamson, proved just enough.

Wigan – who had their only try-scorer Mia-Jayne Atherton and Eva Hunter sin-binned in the first half – were left stunned after an uncharacteristically error-strewn display.

York head coach Leon Pryce felt Hunter should have been sent off for a forearm to the throat of Williamson as she carried the ball into contact but in the end it did not affect the result.

The Valkyrie, the only team to have beaten Wigan this season, dug deep into their well of resolve to shade a gripping Grand Final.

Without the influential Tara Jane Stanley through concussion, they were odds against but with Wigan unable to get into their free-flowing stride, York’s superb determination saw them over the line.

They had a simple gameplan and played it to perfection.

Peach gave them a ninth-minute lead, spinning through the Wigan defence close to the line after making the initial break as they dominated the opening exchanges.

Atherton pulled Wigan level in the 18th minute after a fine break from Jenna Foubister. But she was then sin-binned for her part in a dangerous double tip tackle with Bethan Dainton on Jas Bell, and Williamson put over the penalty to restore York’s lead.

Lenham went close to increasing it and Liv Wood was held up over the line just after the break but from then it was one-way traffic.

But York, winners in 2023 and 2024, simply refused to yield.

Lisa Parker, who played with a broken hand, made 47 tackles. Her fiance proposed to her on the touchline afterwards. She said yes. It was that sort of night.

York Valkyrie’s Agnes Wood told BBC Radio York:

“That was incredible. All the girls worked so hard. It was massive from everyone.

“In the second half Wigan really gave it back and the biggest thing we had to do was scramble and make sure that they didn’t score. That was the main aim of the second half.

“We were all really motivated by the fact that nobody was giving us any credit and we really wanted to prove everyone wrong. We didn’t have the strongest start to the season, but have we proved everyone wrong?

“All the coaching staff have backed us 100% from beginning to end and they just said to keep going and keep going and we have and I’m just so proud of all the girls. They’ve put in so much work throughout the whole season.”

Wigan: Banks; Davies, Wilson, M Jones, Derbyshire; Foubister, Rowe; Coleman, Wilton, Sams, E. Hunter, C Jones, Williams

Interchanges: Marsh, Atherton, Dainton, Salihi

York: Donovan; Kershaw, Woods, Leniham, Partington; Akwiwu, Williamson; A. Wood, Peach, Pakulis, O. Wood, Andrade, Parker

Interchanges: Bell, Bibby, Brennan, Henderson

Referee: Aaron Moore