The Warrior Women were crowned Nines Champions

• Wigan Warriors went unbeaten in the Final Nines to be crowned champions.
• The Warriors have kept three clean sheets in four games.
• Watch all the matches again on YouTube HERE.

Wigan Warriors Women remained unbeaten to be crowned the 2024 Sewell Group Craven Park Women’s Champions.

The Warriors advanced to the group stage with a perfect record after wins over York Valkyrie and Huddersfield Giants.

In the semi-final, they blew out Cardiff Demons with a 40-0 win before defeating Leeds Rhinos in a repeat of the 2023 Nines final, beating them 21-0 to be crowned champions in 2024.

First game: Wigan Warriors 26-8 York Valkyrie.

The Warriors got the Women’s Nines Festival off to the perfect start when Isabel Rowe ran from deep in her own half to land between the sticks inside 30 seconds before adding the extra herself for a 7-0 lead.

A handling error brought possession back to the Warriors before play was worked wide to Grace Banks who sped around the Valkyrie defense to score a second try after four minutes.

Wigan stood firm in defense to turn possession over before a quick flick of the hand along the line found Eva Hunter who sidestepped the attempted tackle to run in and score.

York scored in the corner to make it 15-4 at the break, however an electric break from Anna Davies set up Georgia Wilson to score straight after the restart with Rowe converting.

Valkyrie added a second unconverted try with 13 minutes on the clock, however, the Warriors scored the final points of the game when Jenna Foubister ran fantastically through the York defense to score between the sticks before adding the conversion for a 26-8 win.

Match Two: Wigan Warriors 31-0 Huddersfield Giants.

The Warriors and Giants were evenly matched in defense in the opening minutes, until a short pass from Foubister allowed Molly Jones to break down the left wing before going down between the sticks, while Rowe added the extra for a 7-0 lead.

Wigan doubled their lead before half-time when possession was worked down the line to Mary Coleman, who broke free from the tackle 40 yards out before bursting clear to score, while Rowe successfully added the two with the final action of the half.

The Warriors ran for their third try 40 seconds into the second half when Rowe’s pass found XX who cut the defense to the ground between the sticks after a successful kick.

A Huddersfield error from the restart gave the Warriors a fresh set-up 30 meters out from which Rowe managed to find a gap in the Giants defense to score his second try of the afternoon as he added the extra for a 27-0 lead.

A fifth and final try of the match was scored with four minutes remaining when Cailey Miller beat two ground tackles in the corner and a 31-0 victory ensured the Warriors advanced to the semi-finals as group winners.

Semi Final: Wigan Warriors 40-0 Cardiff Demons.

The Warriors faced the Cardiff Demons in the Women’s Nines semi-final after the Welsh side finished runners-up in their group following an important win over St Helens.

After an even start to the clash, the Warriors opened the scoring after four minutes when Rowe’s delicate flick found Coleman who broke through to score with the extras successfully added.

The Warriors extended their lead before the break when a change of pace from Rowe saw her go through two tacklers to run from halfway to score between the sticks. Foubister added the extra to give Wigan a 13-0 lead at the break.

The points gap widened 30 seconds after the restart when Ellise Derbyshire won possession in his own half before accelerating away from the Demons defense to score between the sticks as Foubister successfully converted.

Two tries in two minutes from Wigan saw the points gap increase to 33-0 after Davies first crossed down the right before Derbyshire planted their second on the opposite side, Rowe and Foubsiter adding extract.

Jones went through a tackle to add a sixth try with two minutes remaining before solid defensive work from Miller and Derbyshire saw off the Demons with the final attack of the game as the Warriors advanced to the Women’s Nines Final after a 40-0 win.

Final: Wigan Warriors 21-0 Leeds Rhinos

After an evenly contested start to the finals where each team matched each other defensively, the Warriors opened the scoring just before the break when Hunter ran through a pace goal to score down the left wing. The conversion was unsuccessful but Wigan led 4-0 at half-time.

The Warriors started the second half strongly as Rowe’s short pass found Banks who crossed from 30m out to score in the right corner 40 seconds after the restart.

Leeds almost made an immediate response when Amy Hardcastle looked to power up, however the ball was thrown forward in an attempt to break through under pressure from Derbyshire and Rowe.

The Warriors turned defense into attack from the restart as Hunter once again broke a tackle on the left side before offloading inside to Coleman who burst to score. Despite Foubister’s shot going just wide, the Warriors led 12-0 in the 13th minute.

A flurry of tries in the last 5 minutes saw Grace Banks get away to score under the sticks for a 5 point try before Banks sent Anna Davies over to dive in the corner to seal a emphatic 21-0 win to see the Warriors take the Nines. the crown!