Women’s Match Preview: Cardiff

[josie andrews]

HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW AHEAD OF WIGAN WARRIORS WOMEN’S 2024 BETFRED CHALLENGE CUP FINAL GROUP STAGE GAME AGAINST CARDIFF DEMONS AT ROBIN PARK ARENA.

The Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Group stages come to a finale this weekend as the Warriors host Cardiff Demons in the final game of the group stages at Robin Park Arena on Sunday 7 April (2pm K.O.) The fixture will be just the second meeting between the two sides and the winner will claim top spot in the group.

With the Quarter-Final draw already made, Wigan will face Cardiff once again in the next round of the competition.

Squad News

Denis Betts has named his 21-player squad ahead of Sunday’s fixture on home soil. The squad sees Brogan Evans, Emma Dwyer and Lucy Johnson miss-out, replaced by Olivia Harborow, Emma Welsford and new signing Rease Casey.

Women’s squad to face Cardiff:

2 Cailey Miller
3 Anna Davies
5 Ellie’s Darbyshire
6 sinead Doria
7 Emma Knowles
8 Alice Fisher
9 Abbie Singleton
10 Holly Speakman
11 Eva Hunter
12 Mary Coleman
14 Rachel Thompson
19 Ellie Costello
21 Jade Gregory-Haseldene
22 Jodie Morris
23 Kaitlin Hilton
26 Cerys Jones
27 Beth Hayes
28 Olivia Harborrow
32 Isabel Rowe
34 Emma Welsford
35 Rease Casey

Opposition

The game will be the second meeting between the two sides, with the Warriors having claimed a 38-20 victory over the Demons in South Wales in the Challenge Cup competition a year ago.

Wigan Wins: 1
Cardiff Wins: 0

Cardiff Demons Squad

1 Brittony Price
2 Eleri Michael
3 Seren G-W
4 Kaitlin Hubert
5 Zoe Heeley
6 Shaunni Davies (C)
7 Rhi Parker
8 Lauren Aitken
9 Jasmine Gibbons
10 Sara Jones
11 Bridget Jones
12 Charlie Mundy
13 Amy Price

Interchanges

14 Meg Whittaker
15 Ffion Jenkins
16 Tara Finnegan
17 Katie Carr

Reserves

18 Kim Boaler
19 Lucia Davies


Pre-match Quotes

Speaking to wiganwarriors.com ahead of the game, Head Coach Denis Betts said: “We need to focus on what is important. It is important that we get a performance, how we prepare, how we carry ourselves into the game and recognise that a win gives us a home Quarter-Final tie.

“We are at home this weekend so we’ve got to make this place our fortress and make this place strong. We have to come into this challenge differently; last time we started poorly, we need to start well. We need to do all the things that we did well in the first two games but maintain it against better opposition. The competition is getting better but understanding what we want to do is getting better.”

He added: “This Cardiff side brings a lot of international players with them, Welsh internationals in their team. They have got some very good players within their squad, so the challenge is going to be there, they are a very good side.”

Ticket info

As this tie is a Challenge Cup game, admission is pay on the day costing £5 Adults and £3 Concessions.

Robins Nest will be open from 11am until mid-way through the second half, serving hot and cold drinks. Please note that Robins Nest is card only. A catering van will also be in attendance on Sunday morning near the 3G pitches serving breakfast items.

Watch Live

Supporters can also watch the game live on Wigan TV this Sunday with commentary, Brogan Evans will be joining the commentary team to give us some insight into the game. Sign up today from £5.99 per month HERE.

Full match and match highlights from the game will also be on Wigan TV following the game early next week.

Social Media

Wigan fans can follow every piece of the action via our social media channels and website.

X ‘Formerly Twitter’ (@WiganWarriorsRL) – half time and full time updates.
Instagram (@wiganwarriorsrl) – half time and full time updates.
Facebook (Wigan Warriors) – half time and full time updates.
Website (www.wiganwarriors.com) – post-match reaction including a match report.

https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2024/04/ ... w-cardiff/