York Valkyrie have been dealt a major setback ahead of the Women’s Super League semi-finals after hooker Sinead Peach was handed a four-match suspension.
Peach was shown a red card in last month’s defeat to St Helens after directing a comment towards the match official.
At a tribunal hearing, she was found guilty of Grade E “Other Contrary Behaviour” and received a four-game ban along with 24 disciplinary points.
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The punishment has already seen her miss York’s final-round clash with Leeds Rhinos, and crucially rules her out of Sunday’s semi-final trip to St Helens.
Should the Valkyrie progress, Peach will also be unavailable for the Grand Final.
Valkyrie’s season so far
York finished third in the table after the 14 regular-season rounds, winning ten matches and losing four.
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They posted one of the league’s most substantial points differences (+296) thanks to dominant victories over Warrington, Barrow and others, while also competing closely with the top two, Wigan and St Helens.
The Valkyrie also reached the Challenge Cup semi-finals, where they were narrowly beaten by Saints, underlining their status as consistent contenders.
What her absence means
Peach’s suspension comes at the worst possible time for York.
As their starting hooker, she controls the tempo from dummy half and provides vital leadership in both attack and defence.
Head coach Lindsay Anfield will now be forced to reshuffle her side for the semi-final against a Saints team that has already beaten York twice this season.
Without Peach, the Valkyrie will need others to step up if they are to keep their title hopes alive.
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