By Greg Nixon
WARRINGTON Wolves stand-off Michelle Davis believes her young team are building something special despite their defeat to Manchester Swinton Lionesses in the Challenge Shield Final.
The Wire lost out 18-10 at Wigan’s Edge Hall Road Community Stadium in what was a hard-fought – and sometimes ill tempered – game.
Lionesses’ winger Grace Pritchard scored a hat-trick to break the Wire’s resistance after they had fought back from 10-0 down to go in level at the break.
Davis said: “We knew it was going to be one of those tough battles, but I couldn’t ask for any more from the girls.
“We gave it grit and determination and showed we are together as a team.
“This season has always been about building something special and we have got that – I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”
Warrington started the brighter of the two sides, spurred on by healthy support from the stands, and came close when prop Beth Hayes was held up over the line on seven minutes.
But when winger Teneisha Fairbrother was harshly adjudged to have been bundled into touch in the corner, poor discipline from Wire allowed Swinton to march up field and break the deadlock with a try from centre Grace Arrowsmith down the left-hand side.
Full back Eve Armstrong failed to convert but, just moments later, the Lionesses stretched their lead when Pritchard took advantage of hesitation by Wolves’ full back Hollie Gregory from a high kick by player of the match Tamika Bull, to score under the sticks. Armstrong managed to add the extras to open up a 10-0 lead.
At that point it looked like Swinton might run away with the game, but – to their credit – Warrington managed to gain a foothold on the back of some poor Swinton discipline and, when the ball was reefed as Fairbrother headed for the corner, quick hands from the resultant penalty allowed Evie Willaims to force her way over on the opposite side on the half hour.
Davis missed the conversion to leave the score 10-4 but, with three minutes of the half left, Kaitlin Hilton forced her way over the line after Swinton had been punished for more ill-discipline. Davis had no trouble in levelling up the scores at the break.
Warrington started the brighter in the second half, but poor handling let them down in the middle of the park and it was only a matter of time before Swinton capitalised, with Pritchard crossing in the corner just before the hour to make it 14-10.
Arrowsmith was shown a yellow card eight minutes from time for a suspected hip drop tackle on Hollie Brussels, but the Wire couldn’t take advantage and, under intense pressure on their own line, were unable to stop Pritchard sealing her hat-trick – and the victory – in the dying moments.
Davis said: “It’s a young team but they stood up really well. We have got girls who have come through the Pathway and it’s starting to come to fruition now and shows the depth Warrington has now got.
“We have got the younger girls in alongside experienced players and not having too much pressure on them but also letting them have the free rein to show what they can do.
“We fought back well in the first half, and we always said we would never let our heads drop and show what we’re capable of.
“We’ve got to give a massive thanks to the fans and crowd and everyone who got behind us for this final.”
WOLVES: 1 Hollie Gregory, 27 Teneisha Fairbrother, 4 Kaitlin Hilton, 5 Hollie Brussels, 28 Evie Williams, 6 Michelle Davis, 7 Ellie Costello, 8 Beth Hayes, 9 Emma Dwyer, 10 Megan Bragg (c), 22 Kayleigh Bradshaw, 12 Georgia Westwood, 13 Maddie Price
Subs: 11 Shannon Stephens, 14 Megan Condliffe, 15 Ellie Dooney, 17 Jen Myler, 18 Ellie Jelves, 19 Lydia Egan
Tries: Williams (29), Hilton (37); Goals: Davis 1/2
LIONESSES: 1 Eve Ashcroft (c), 2 Chloe Newbigging , 3 Kerry Evan, 4 Grace Arrowsmith, 5 Grace Pritchard, 6 Tamika Bull, 7 Maddison Higson, 21 Eleanor Atherton, 9 Abbie Singleton, 16 Madeline Neal, 30 Jasmine Wilson, 12 Amber Harmon, 13 Georgia Briggs
Subs 8 Georgia Lake, 14 Morgan Pearson, 15 Emma Welsford, 17 Leila D’Symonds, 18 Amelia Newton, 27 Charlotte Hall, 29 Yasmin Parton Sotomayer
Tries: Arrowsmith(13), Pritchard (16, 58, 79); Goals: Ashcroft 1/2, Bull 0/1
