The final round commenced Sunday 21st to decide who would be heading to the Women’s Challenge Cup Quarter Finals.
Wigan topped Group 1 with 3 wins from 3 coming off a 60-0 win vs Salford to finish the group stages for them, rewarded with a guaranteed home advantage in the next stage of the competition. Cardiff Demons make history by securing a quarter finals spot in their first outing in the Challenge Cup, beating inaugural Cup champions Featherstone 36-18. They follow the Warriors to the Quarter finals by securing 2 wins, losing only to the table topping Wigan. Featherstone only saw 1 win in their Cup run and Salford finished winless in Group 1.
Leeds and Huddersfield came into Round 3 on equal wins, this fixture would be the one to decide home advantage in the Quarter Finals. Leeds put up a comprehensive performance beating the Giants 52-0. Leeds will be looking to right their wrongs from last year’s Cup, where they lost to St Helens 18-8 at Elland Road at home. No team were able to score a try against Leeds in Group 2, with wins of 52-0 vs Giants, 72-0 vs Bradford and with Oulton forfeiting as they were unable to field a full team, the Rhinos were awarded a 48-0 win as per RFL regulations. Bradford pipped Oulton in the final game, who were slightly injury plagued, to claw their only win of the Cup.
York were always destined to do well in their group regardless of opponents give their blistering form across the Women’s Super League, Women’s Nines Festival and previous Challenge Cup group games. The Valkyrie have yet to lose a game this season, their Cup fixture versus Leigh at Twist Lane was to be no different. York beat the Leopards, who finished second in group to get through to the next stage of the competition, 54-0. York have home advantage at the LNER Community Stadium for the Quarter Finals. Elsewhere in Group 3, it was a tense game at the Hull KR home ground with Barrow Raiders coming out the better of the two in a 20-11 win.
It was a straightforward journey for reigning Women’s Challenge Cup champions St Helens who took on Warrington Wolves at home beating them 38-4 in order for the Saints to return to the same venue in the Quarters. London Broncos took on the Castleford Tigers with a shock result coming from the game. Women’s Super League South side Broncos thrashed Tigers 40-4. While it did not improve their position in the group, the fixture highlighted the strength of the Broncos – but also the decline of the once great Castleford.
The draw for the Quarter Finals will be announced at Headingley after Friday’s Women’s Super League fixture Leeds vs St Helens. Teams that finished top of their group (York, St Helens, Leeds and Wigan) will be hosting the next stage of the Cup. The Men’s and Women’s Challenge Cup Final will be held at Wembley Stadium as a double header on Saturday 12th August. You can by tickets for the big finale here.
🔢 The final group standings from this season's @Betfred Women's #ChallengeCup…
🙌 Next up, the Quarter Finals!
— Betfred Challenge Cup (@TheChallengeCup) May 23, 2023
Catch up on all the results and information from the final group stage of the Women’s Challenge Cup below!
Group 1
Cardiff Demons vs Featherstone Rovers, Wigan Warriors vs Salford Red Devils.
Cardiff Demons 36 – 18 Featherstone Rovers
(HT 12 – 12) Cardiff University Sports Fields
Cardiff tries: Reardon, Carr, Michael, Heeley, Burnell, Price, Hubbert (2) | Cardiff goals: Ruck (2/8)
Featherstone tries: Copley, Mannion | Featherstone goals: Bryer (2/2)
Cardiff Demons XIII: Leanne Burnell, Eleri Michael, Kaitlin Hubbert, Rosie Carr, Zoe Heeley, Amberley Ruck, Rhi Parker, Sara Jones, Molly Reardon, Lauren Aitken, Charlie Mundy, Ffion Jones, Katie Carr. Interchanges: Amy Price, Shaunni Davies, Hannah Jones, Ffion Jenkins.
Featherstone Rovers XIII: Fran Copley, Ellie Lamb, Chloe Billington, Ella Johnson, Lucy Attree, Elle Wainhouse, Tally Bryer, Gabby Harrison, Danielle Waters, Kirsty Duffield, Amie Backhouse, Hailey Swann, Shanelle Mannion. Interchanges: Brogan Kennedy, Kaia-Jo Laing, Rachel Eastwood, Shavon Craven.
Head coach: Marie Colley
Wigan Warriors 60 – 0 Salford Red Devils
(HT 24 – 0) Robin Park
Wigan tries: 1’ Leigh, 10’ 76’ M Jones, 13’ Greenfield, 32’ 35’ 64’ Banks, 47’ 74’ Hayes, 59’ Hilton, 68’ Johnson | Wigan goals: Greenfield (2/5), Burrows (6/6)
Wigan Warriors XIII: Beri Salihi, Rebecca Greenfield, Gabi Leigh, Eva Hunter, Molly Jones, Grace Banks, Carys Marsh, Holly Speakman, Emma Dwyer, Lucy Johnson, Vicky Molyneux, Mary Coleman, Cerys Jones. Interchanges: Bethany Hayes, Kerrie Evans, Alison Burrows, Kaitlin Hilton. Head coach: Kris Ratcliffe
Salford Red Devils XIII: Sage Bannister, Lauren Ellison, Steph Gray, Victoria Kini, Alex Simpson, Louise Fellingham, Demi Jones, Megan Condilffe, Tamzin Corcoran, Emerald Hickey, Abi Collins, Summer Harris, Brogan Evans. Interchanges: Hannah Wicks, Sam Evans, Yasmin Parton-Sotomayor, Darcey Price. Head coach: Chris Bates
Group 2
Bradford Bulls vs Oulton Raidettes, Huddersfield Giants vs Leeds Rhinos.
Bradford Bulls 38 – 6 Oulton Raidettes
(HT 24 – 0)
Odsal Stadium
Bradford tries: 4’ 37’ Collins, 7’ Fisher, 18’ 27’ Williams, 51’ Butterfield, 55’ MacMillan, 72’ Downs | Bradford goals: Butterfield (1/4), Bell (2/4)
Oulton tries: 44’ Oram | Oulton goals: Gittins (1/1)
Bradford Bulls XIII: Beth MacMillan, Lily Williams, Jamie Leigh Scott, Bailey Alexander, Lucy Butterfield, Saskia Lewis, Millie Bell, Millen Downs, Evie Kilburn, Alice Fisher, Ellena Powell, Jess Harrap, Claire Collins. Interchanges: Ellen Strafford, Jess Malik, Manina Spurr, Annabelle Jackson. Head coach: Shaun Flynn
Oulton Raidettes XIII: Dani Rose, Darcy Westwood, Ellie Johnson, Grace Short, Sophie Oram, Keira Gittins, Hannah Hill, Maddie Hirst, Leah McFarlane, KJ Wilkinson, Vanessa Harriman, Alice Costello, Emily Fitzpatrick. Interchanges: Abigail Birtwhistle, Abby Briggs, Oceana Faulkner, Chelsea Senior.
Huddersfield Giants 0 – 52 Leeds Rhinos
(HT 0 – 36)
Huddersfield YMCA
Leeds tries: 2’ 32’ Dainton, 8’ 55’ Butcher, 13’ 40’ 42’ Moxon, 22’ Hardcastle, 39’ Earnshaw-Cudjoe, 71’ Northrop, 78’ Gaines | Leeds goals: Hayward (4/11)
Leeds Rhinos XIII: Sophie Nuttall, Eloise Hayward, Hanna Butcher, Mayzi Carter, Tara Moxon, Caitlin Casey, Tasha Gaines, Kaiya Glynn, Jasmine Earnshaw-Cudjoe, Izzy Northrop, Amy Hardcastle, Bethan Dainton, Georgia Hale. Interchanges: Jenna Greening, Beth Lockwood, Dannielle Anderson, Elle Frain. Head coach: Lois Forsell
Huddersfield Giants XIII: Amy Bennett, Hannah Goodard, Kelly Morgan, Erin Stott, Lucy Burwood, Megan Preston, Becky Grady, Emma Wilkinson, Millie Taylor, Sienna McPherson, Ellie Thompson, Katy Fisher, Frankie Townend. Interchanges: Albany Coates, Charlotte Hawkins, Rachael Barker, Emily Simister. Head coach: Lori Halloran
Group 3
Leigh Leopards vs York Valkyrie, Hull KR vs Barrow Raiders.
Leigh Leopards 0 – 54 York Valkyrie
(HT 0 – 22) Twist Lane
York tries: 2’ Hyde, 23’ 35’ Peach, 30’ 75’ Hendry, 48’ Marshall, 56’ 67’ Taylor, 63’ Renouf, 72’ Hetherington | York goals: Stanley (7/10)
Leigh Leopards XIII: Hatice Dogus, Toryn Blackwood, Mackenzie Taylor, Ellise Derbyshire, Elise Gater, Rhianna Burke, Emma Knowles, Mairead Quinn, Kate Howard, Kimberley Seddon, Keli Morris, Olivia Boyham, Grace Hill. Interchanges: Kirsty Millington, Jessica Farnell, Vicky Rosevere, Isla Aspden. Head coach: Kieron Purtill
York Valkyrie XIII: Tara Jane Stanley, Georgia Taylor, Emma Kershaw, Georgie Hetherington, Liv Whitehead, Tamzin Renouf, Liv Gale, Liv Wood, Sinead Peach, Aimee Staveley, Lacey Owen, Ellie Hendry, Rhiannion Marshall. Interchanges: Ash Hyde, Bettie Lambert, Matilda Butler, Daisy Sanderson. Head coach: Linsday Anfield
Hull KR 11 – 20 Barrow Raiders
(HT 6 – 4) Sewell Group Craven Park
Hull tries: 8’ Brown, 79’ Thomas | Hull goals: Thomas (1 DG) (1/2)
Barrow tries: 14’ Stirzaker, 42’ 54’ Pattinson, 68’ Sherlock | Barrow goals: Pattinson (2/4)
Hull KR XIII: O Nolan, Ruby Marritt, Sophie Banks, Demi Thomas, Brianna Mulhern, Ebony Oaten-Powdrill, Abbie Kudla, Byrom, Amy Nolan, Lois Brown, Narelle Hall, Madison Kendall, Aaliyah Brewster. Interchanges: Katie Hunter, Leanne Baggley, Shannon Ostler, Niamh Mullins.
Barrow Raiders squad (XIII not specified): Michelle Larkin, Emily Stirzaker, Sam Norman, Bethany Pattinson, Jodie Litherland, Hannah Sherlock, Beth Lindsay, Kerrie-Ann Smith, Claire Hutchinson, Kelly Friend, Louise Clarke, Emma Hutchinson, Meagan Byers, Leah Clough, Jodie Morley, Cerys Rice, India Jackson, Laura Mellen. Head coach: Amanda Wilkinson
Group 4
St Helens vs Warrington Wolves, Castleford Tigers vs London Broncos.
St Helens 38 – 4 Warrington Wolves
(HT 10 – 4) Totally Wicked Stadium
Saints tries: 6’ Rudge, 18’ 68’ Cunningham, 43’ Burke, 58’ McColm, 63’ Hoyle, 72’ Harris | Saints goals: Taylor (5/8)
Warrington tries: 34’ Sutherland | Wolves goals: Davis (0/1)
St Helens XIII: Eboni Partington, Gracie Bradshaw, Naomi Williams, Luci McColm, Leah Burke, Zoe Harris, Amy Taylor, Chantelle Crowl, Tara Jones, Darcy Stott, Alyx Bridge, Emily Rudge, Jodie Cunningham. Interchanges: Faye Gaskin, Shona Hoyle, Vicky Whitfield, Pip Birchall. Head coach: Matty Smith.
Warrington Wolves XIII: Michelle Davis, Abigail Johnston, Emily Baggaley, Sam Simpson, Georgia Sutherland, Lucy Eastwood, Charlie Magraw, Amy Daniels, Ellie Jelves, Abigail Latchford, Katie-May Williams, Kacy Haley, Georgia Westwood. Interchanges: Amy Boardman, Jess Courtman, Lauren Roberts, Emily Downs. Head coach: Lee Westwood
London Broncos 40 – 4 Castleford Tigers
(HT 10 – 0) Richmond RFC
Squad – Castleford Tigers XIII: Courtney Evans, Lauren Waller, Lisa Box, Emily Johnstone, Allana Walker, Emily White, Abby Cromack, Ellie Brown, Alisha Nix, Steph Spence-Hirst, Sam Burnell, Caitlin Johnson, Maisie Lumb. Interchanges: Tahnee Holmes, Bryony Jackson, Maddison Rainey, Honor Ratcliffe. Head coach: Rob Richardson
Squad – London Broncos XIII: Lauren Mueller, Rosie Cairns, Katie Wallis, Kirsty-Lee Griffiths, Sophie Tauchert, Jess Ingram, Courtney Treco ©, Sue Neumann, Iona McCusker, Ellie Hunt-Pain, Ellie Taylor, Rachel Humphries, Ruth Mottershead. Interchanges: Beth McFarlane, Comfort Ilozobhie, Andrea Mena, Sophie Messem. Head coach: Siobhan Longdon-Hughes
Written by Ellie Indie
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