Women’s Super League: Anna Davies stars as Wigan beat Barrow to reach the top flight

Anna Davies scored five tries as Wigan Warriors beat Barrow Raiders 46-6 to go top of the Women’s Super League.

Davies scored a first-half hat-trick before adding two more in the second period, with her side’s other tries coming from Grace Banks, Abbie Singleton, Kaitlin Hilton and Rease Casey.

The nine-try win moves Wigan above Leeds Rhinos, who travel to Huddersfield Giants on Sunday (2pm BST).

In Saturday’s other encounter, Warrington Wolves came from behind to deny winless Featherstone Rovers a first Championship win of this campaign.

Davies opened the scoring for Wigan after 15 minutes and Banks added her second two minutes later, Isobel Rowe converting both to make it 12-0.

Davies’ second came shortly after the half-hour when he crossed in the corner and completed his hat-trick with an interception before Rowe converted again to put the visitors 22-0 up at the break.

Wigan extended their lead in the first minute of the second half when Singleton crossed from close range.

Barrow got on the scoresheet in the 55th minute when an Emma Hutchinson break sent Jodie Morley crashing over, Jodie Litherland landing the extras to make it 28-6.

But Wigan responded strongly when Hilton crossed before Davies grabbed his fourth and fifth tries of the afternoon to extend their lead.

Casey added Wigan’s ninth and final try on 72 minutes to secure a comfortable victory.

Featherstone came close to securing their first win of the season before being denied by a Warrington comeback in the second half.

Rovers took the lead in the eighth minute when Ella Johnson crossed in the corner before Grace Burnett equalized for Warrington ten minutes later.

The home side regained the lead when Ellie Lamb scored just under the half-hour mark to take a 10-4 lead into the break.

But Warrington hit back with a converted try on 50 minutes and they took the lead for the first time with 12 minutes remaining when Samantha Simpson crossed and held on to claim their third league win of the season.