The Black & Whites made it three wins from four at the start of the Women’s League One campaign on Sunday with a comprehensive 44-0 victory over Leigh Miners Rangers.
Seven different players made the scoresheet, including braces from Evie Sexton and Nat Romano, as FC kept Leigh scoreless at the University of Hull.
Team News
Head Coach Jack Coates made two changes to the side that cruised to victory in the League Cup Quarter-Finals last weekend, with Isobel Smith missing out with concussion, while Abby Price dropped out with a back issue.
Experienced fullback Leanne Baggley came into the side alongside Joanne Lamb.
The Match
Leigh had first use of the ball and found themselves in a promising position, but Hull dealt well with the early threat. Key then charged down field, before finding Ellis who picked up the first try of the game. The try was converted from dead in front. FC nearly went back-to-back, with the ball worked out to the right wing before an error.
Hull had their second after ten minutes. A quick play-the-ball allowed the ball to be shipped out wide to Lawson who grounded. The conversion was dragged wide. It was back-to-back tries for the Black and Whites, with Romano burrowing over from close range. The conversion was unsuccessful.
Worth thought she’d got the fourth on the 20-minute mark, but the referee adjudged the ball was grounded in touch.
An error from Pilmer gave Leigh an opportunity on the Hull line. Rangers developed the overlap and put a kick through into the space, but Worth swept across to take in the ball.
On the next set, Baggley came across to get to the kick, before breaking away to get to the Leigh twenty. Baggleyfinished off the effort for a superb fourth try. The conversion fell away to the right of the posts. FC’s fifth came on the next set, with Sexton dancing through the defensive line to score. The conversion was on target, which was the last act of the half.
Half-Time: Hull FC Women 24-0 Leigh Miners Rangers Women
FC scored straight away in the second-half, with Sexton capitalising on an error to get over for her second of the day. The try was converted once more.
Play was stopped for approximately ten minutes due to an injury, before play was resumed and Leigh went close down the left side before throwing a forward pass.
Hull were helped up field with a penalty on the 55th minute, and made the most of it. Lawson broke free of a tackle before passing back inside to Romano for her second of the day. Ellis added the extras. The next set saw Hull break down the left wing again, with Cowling sending two brilliant show-and-go’s to score in the corner. The conversion was wide of the mark. A knock on denied FC three quick tries on the bounce.
A sensational cut-out ball to the right wing from dummy half found Manb who added her name to the scoresheet around five minutes later. The kick looked to be good but fell just short.
Leigh had a good opportunity to add their first points after 75 minutes, but pressure from Romano and Sexton forced a knock on from the fullback.
Rangers heaped the pressure on as the match came to a close, with compounded errors keeping them pinned on the Hull line. Resilient defence saw the Black & Whites defend five straight sets on their line to keep the visitors scoreless.
The win sees Hull climb to third in the table, with a game in hand on Thatto Heath and Illingworth who possess the two top spots – FC maintain the best defensive record in the league, conceding just 34 points so far this season.
Full Time: Hull FC Women 44-0 Leigh Miners Rangers Women
Squads:
Hull FC: Poppy Lyon, Laura Pilmer, Charlie Lawson, Maddie Smith, Alyx Worth, Ruby Ellis, Kayleigh Waller, Tia Hodgins, Jade Key, Alex Parkin, Evie Sexton, Rebecca Cowling, Nat Romano
Interchange: Leanne Baggley, Joanna Lamb, Alisha Roper, Kacey Sexton, Heather Taylor
Leigh Miners: Hollie Gregory, Louise Boardman, Adele Newton, Millie Richardson, Leila Stringer, Lily Jones, Kirsty Millington, Cara Williamson, Kaitlin Clarke, Jess Farnell, Anna Croft, Abbie Gregory, Vicky Rosevere
Interchange: Maddie Higson, Fran Boyham, Becky Blackburn, Bekah Calland, Courtney Kenny, Libby Wall
Scorers:
Hull FC Tries: Ruby Ellis, Charlie Lawson, Nat Romano (2), Leanne Baggley, Evie Sexton (2), Rebecca Cowling, Joanna Lamb
Hull FC Goals: Kayleigh Waller (3), Ruby Ellis (1)
Leigh Miners Tries: –
Leigh Miners Goals: –
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