York close in on play-offs after win at Saints

Tries: Whitfield, Bridge, Hoyle-Holdsworth Goals: Gaskin 3

Tries: Andrade 3, Stanley, Akwiwu Goals: Stanley 4

Savannah Andrade's first-half hat-trick helped secure York Valkyrie a 28-18 victory at St Helens, despite a second-half fightback by the hosts.

The win was critical to helping the third-placed visitors close in on a Women's Super League play-off place with two matches to play. St Helens, in fourth, are two points behind York, with the two sides to meet again on 6 September.

York took full control inside 16 minutes when Andrade twice powered over and former Woman of Steel Tara-Jane Stanley converted twice, before crossing and kicking a third conversion herself.

Saints picked up on a drop of the ball from Emma Kershaw, resulting in Vicky Whitfield scoring her third try of the season, but Andrade added her third for a sucker punch before half-time.

Alyx Bridge got Saints back into it again three minutes after the restart from close range, with Gaskin adding the extras, but Adaoha Akwiwu crossed again for York just before the hour.

Shona Hoyle-Holdsworth set up a nervy finish for York with a score for the hosts, converted by Gaskin, but York weathered the storm.

St Helens: Dennis; Hardcastle, Sheron, Woosey, McGifford; Harris, Gaskin; Hoyle-Holdsworth, Casey, McDonald, Travis, Rudge, Cunningham.

Interchanges: Hook, Whitfield, Mottershead, Bridge.

York: Donovan; Kershaw, Woods, Akwiwu, Partington; Stanley, Williamson; Wood, Peach, Pakulis, Renouf, Andrade, Parker.

Interchanges: Bibby, Bell, Brennan, Henderson.