Evie Sexton scored five tries on debut for Hull FC Women on Sunday as the Black & Whites claimed a comprehensive 46-0 win over Wakefield in their opening game of the season.
FC proved far too strong for the hosts at the DIY Kitchens Stadium in their first game in Women’s League 1, with 17-year old centre Sexton the star of the show with a breath-taking performance.
Jack Coates’ side ran in nine tries in all in a dominant performance, with loose-forward Ruby Ellis also grabbing a score on her first appearance for the senior side, with a spectacular 50 metre dash to the line.
Team News
Head coach Jack Coates named a side featuring some 12 players to come through the club’s Centre of Excellence pathway.
Five players named in the match day squad had stepped up from the U16s team ahead of the start of the 2024 season, including both Sexton and Ellis.
The Match
It was the hosts who started the brighter of the two sides, enjoying plenty of possession on FC’s line, but Hull defended brilliantly to keep Trinity at bay.
A superb piece of defending from Poppy Lyon and Lauren Sutton held Jessie Barker up over the line, who looked certain to touch down – crossing the try-line, the Hull pair continued to chase as the Trinity half-back looked to ground the ball, and tackled in time to keep the hosts scoreless.
FC had their first score of the game on the 20 minute mark – swinging the ball over to the left edge, Evie Sexton was in acres of space to touch down her first of five. Price converted from the touchline.
Hull, and Sexton, had their second eight minutes before the break with a spectacular 80 metre effort – breaking free of the Trinity tackle within her own half, she had the pace to race away and touch down under the posts unopposed. Price kicked the goal.
The visitors continued to pile pressure on the Wakefield line, with Poppy Lyon grabbing Hull’s third, scurrying over just before half-time. Abby Price attacked the line, collecting her own grubber and offloading spectacularly behind her back to Tia Hodgins in support, who in turn found the full-back to burrow over. Price’s conversion fell short.
There would be time for a fourth score before the break, with Sexton taking a quick tap from ten metres out and charging over the line. Price was wide with the kick.
Half-Time: Wakefield Trinity 0-20 Hull FC
Hull continued to dominate after the restart, with Abby Price racing over having slipped through a gap in the Wakefield defence. She converted her own try.
Loose-forward Ruby Ellis got in on the action on the 50 minute mark with a memorable debut score for the senior side – running a great line to take Jade Key’s short pass on half-way, she charged some 50 metres, stepping past the full-back on the way to the line. Price was on target once more.
Sexton added a fourth just short of the hour mark with another memorable effort – receiving the ball from the scrum on Hull’s ten metre line, the centre skinned the defenders down the left edge and showed some excellent pace to go under the posts once more. Price added another goal.
Sexton would show more fine pace and footwork to step inside and add he fifth of the afternoon with 15 minutes to play as Hull showed plenty of threat down the left side of the field. Price was short with the kick.
Alyx Worth touched down for Hull’s final try of the afternoon in open space on the left edge. Price was off target.
Full-Time: Wakefield Trinity 0-46 Hull FC
Squads
Wakefield Trinity: Holly Beaumont, Holly Spurr, Natalie Ward, Rochelle Liddle, Destiny Sampson, Jessie Barker, Aimee Osbourne, Deanna Limbert, Sian Spence, Gabrielle Cocks, Leanne Candler, Holly Whitaker, Beth Cain
Interchange: Lily Webster, Ellie Sykes, Victoria Lynch, Katie Paul, Mary Tetley, Trinity Catch
Hull FC: Poppy Lyon, Charlie Lawson, Evie Sexton, Lauren Sutton, Alyx Worth, Abby Price, Abbi Turner, Nat Romano, Jade Key, Heather Taylor, Jesamine Ayre, Georgia Smith, Ruby Ellis.
Interchange: Tia Hodgins, Izzy Smith, Maddie Smith, Rebecca Cowling, Kacey Sexton, Kayleigh Waller, Alex Parkin
Scorers
Wakefield Trinity Tries: –
Wakefield Trinity Goals: –
Hull FC Tries: Evie Sexton (5), Ruby Ellis, Poppy Lyon, Abby Price, Alyx Worth
Hull FC Goals: Abby Price (5/9)
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