YORK Valkyrie wrote their name into the history books on Sunday after a 36-4 victory at Wigan Warriors saw them become the first team to claim back-to-back Betfred Women’s Super League Leaders’ Shields.

Lacey Owen, Rhiannion Marshall, Carrie Roberts and Savannah Andrade all crossed the whitewash for the Valkyrie as Lindsay Anfield’s side maintained their unbeaten league record at Robin Park.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Champions however, who fell behind early on for the second consecutive game, but they were clinical in taking their chances from errors, with most of the damage done in a dominant spell that saw them score four times in 14 minutes at the beginning of the second half.

Anfield made four changes from the side that earned an outstanding victory at Warrington Wolves last time out, with Tara Jane Stanley returning at full-back, Owen into the second row, Marshall into the halves in place of the injured Liv Gale and Jas Bell to the bench.

York suffered an early setback in their plight to make history, finding themselves behind early on for the second consecutive match as the bounce of Sinead Doria’s high kick caught out the Valkyrie defence, allowing the half-back to gather and race into the right corner to open the scoring with two minutes played.

However, Anfield’s charges soon hit back, Tamzin Renouf forcing Beri Salihi into coughing up possession 30 metres from the line, allowing Marshall to feed Owen to mark her return from injury with a try, though Stanley was unable to fire her side in front.

Renouf was brought down narrowly short as York looked to take the lead, but instead saw their back line exposed after Wigan won a six-again 30 metres from the line, though Andrade was able to bring down Salahi as she bore down on the whitewash.

The Warriors continued to prove strong opposition for York, full-back Salahi able to read Stanley’s kicks well, both allowing her side to repeatedly start from strong field position whilst pinning York back to within 20 metres of their line.

But another mistake from the hosts opened the door for the Valkyrie to take the lead midway through the half when, having won a repeat set, captain Sinead Peach fed Marshall, who proved too strong for the home defence to force her way across the line.

Wigan thought that they had pegged York back after Anna Davies found space to cross the whitewash on the half-hour mark, but the pass to her from Thompson in the build-up was ruled to have been forwards.

Injuries to Laureane Biville and Davies ensured that the half would reach a stop-start conclusion, though the Valkyrie were unable to take two fantastic opportunities that came their way, as the Wigan defensive line stood strong before Marshall fumbled Peach’s short pass, as they took a 10-4 lead in at the interval.

York’s handling errors continued into the second half, with Renouf unable to hold onto Marshall’s pass before Georgie Hetherington conceded a goal-line drop out after failing to catch Doria’s kick on the last.

But the visitors soon recovered, extending their advantage seven minutes after the restart after being awarded a penalty for a tip-tackle on Bell, a lovely show of hands seeing the ball worked to former St Helens centre Roberts to dive into the right corner for her second try in as many games.

That marked the start of a blistering spell that saw York score a further three times in the 13 minutes that followed.

Roberts was over for her second in similar fashion to her first after Sade Rihari’s right-side shift, before Andrade profited from another Wigan error, finding the whitewash from close range after Stanley’s cross-field kick was dropped.

Wigan struggled to hold on to another Stanley kick from the restart, Marshall completing the scoring spree after collecting a bullet pass from Peach for her second of the afternoon, three successful conversions seeing York hold a 28-point advantage with 20 minutes remaining.

Despite having all but sealed victory, York’s desire continued, Renouf somehow bundled into touch just short of the line, before some fantastic scramble defence stopped Jones in the left corner after an incorrect play of the ball by Elisa Akpa.

But there was still time for the Valkyrie to add further gloss to the scoreline, Emma Kershaw finishing a fine team move into the right corner with seven minutes left to play after the hosts had fumbled Marshall’s kick.

The prop turned half-back dragged her conversion wide but that ill affected the scoreline, York sealing an unprecedented second consecutive League Leaders’ Shield and continuing their unbeaten run in the competition in the process, ahead of their regular season closer at home to Huddersfield Giants on September 10 (3pm).

WIGAN WARRIORS: Salhi, Greenfield, Biville, Jones, Davies, Thompson, Doria, Jones, Dwyer, Johnson, Hunter, Coleman, Molyneux.

INTERCHANGES: Marsh, Bardsley, Hayes, Hilton

TRIES: Doria (2)

GOALS: Salihi 0/1

YORK VALKYRIE: Stanley, Hyde, Renouf, Roberts, Hetherington, Rihari, Marshall, Akpa, Peach, Staveley, Andrade, Owen, Wood.

INTERCHANGES: Kershaw, Bell, Sanderson, Sharp

TRIES: Owen (7), Marshall (24, 59), Roberts (47, 51), Andrade (55), Kershaw (73)

GOALS: Stanley 4/6, Marshall 0/1

POINTS SEQUENCE: 4-0, 4-4, 4-8, 4-10, 4-14, 4-18, 4-20, 4-24, 4-26, 4-30, 4-32, 4-36

HALF TIME: 4-10