By Louis Parr
Warrington Wolves Women got their league season off to the perfect start with a comfortable 24-8 win away to Widnes Vikings.
Tries from Megan Bragg, Michelle Davis, Ellie Jelves and Caitlin Hilton ensured Wire recorded a comprehensive opening day victory.
A dominant first half saw Wolves lead 12-4 at the break, as Lee Westwood’s side delivered an electric team performance.
The first chance fell to the visitors after strong running from Ellie Costello, however Beth Hayes was unfortunate to have knocked on under pressure from the Widnes rearguard.
Vikings grew into the game shortly after, and were well denied by Cailey Miller following Aimee Wood’s excellent link-up play with Hannah Whitehead- the right winger producing an excellent tackle 20 yards from the try line.
Again though, it was Wire who looked the more threatening, as Jennifer Myler went agonisingly close to the game’s first try only to be snuffed out by Chloe Richardson’s fine challenge.
But Warrington’s pressure finally told on 18 minutes, when Megan Bragg crossed after a superb team move.
Hayes and Georgia Westwood moved the ball quickly from left to right, before Bragg found herself perfectly placed to dive over.
Davis then converted the penalty with ease to give Wire a deserved 6-0 lead.
Costello squandered a great chance to extend that advantage five minutes later too, as the stand-off dropped the ball ten yards from the try line after another impressive team move.
And Widnes pounced on that mistake on the half-hour mark when Hannah Quirk did well to score.
Marnie-Lee Kelly was quick to shift the ball over to the right and found the run of Quirk to bring Vikings back into the game.
Wood struck the post from the resulting penalty, before Wire scored their second try moments later.
Davis produced a moment of brilliance to extend the lead, driving 30 yards from the right through the centre of the Widnes defence, dancing through several challenges on her way to the line.
The scrum half again converted to make it 12-4 heading into the break.
Warrington looked equally as impressive after the interval, and were denied a third try thanks to a last-ditch tackle from Naoimh Gill-Ward following a quick breakaway from Jelves and Davis.
The visitors didn’t have to wait long to add to their advantage though, as Jelves ran unchallenged from the halfway line to get on the scoresheet on 54 minutes, before Davis converted from close range to stretch the lead to 18-4.
And Hilton put the game beyond Vikings’ reach on the hour mark, after another solo Wire run from deep.
The centre glided past the host’s attempts, and Davis again added to the points total to make it 24-4.
Widnes regrouped to prevent any further damage, and replied with fifteen to go after some slack Warrington defending as Sammy Traynor reduced the deficit to 24-8.
Jenny Moss was sinbinned on 70 minutes for a hip-drop tackle on Miller, as Wire saw out the rest of the match with ease to kick start their season with a win.
