2018 RFL Women's Super League

The 2018 RFL Women's Super League was the second season of the rugby league Women's Super League for female players in clubs affiliated to the Rugby Football League. The grand final was won by Wigan Warriors Women, who beat Leeds Rhinos Women 18–16 at the Grand Final at the Manchester Regional Arena. Wigan finished second to League Leaders Shield winners Leeds in the regular season.

2018 Women's Super League
Duration14 rounds
Teams7
Matches played42
Points scored1,942
Champions Wigan Warriors Women
League Leaders Shield Leeds Rhinos Women
Woman of Steel Georgia Roche

The defending champions were Bradford Bulls Women,[1] but they failed to make the play-offs in 2018.[2]

At the end of the regular season, the top four teams met in the play-off semi-finals. First placed Leeds beat fourth placed Castleford, while second placed Wigan beat St Helens who finished third. The winners met in the Grand Final at the Manchester Regional Arena on 13 October.

Teams

Two of the seven teams are newly formed for this season, one is renamed and the other four were in existence before 2018.

Colours Club Location Notes
Bradford Bulls Women Bradford, West Yorkshire inaugural champions in 2017.
Castleford Tigers Women Castleford, West Yorkshire
Featherstone Rovers Ladies Featherstone, West Yorkshire
Leeds Rhinos Women Leeds, West Yorkshire Newly formed for 2018.[3]
St Helens R.F.C. Women St Helens, Merseyside Previously known as Thatto Heath Ladies.[4]
Wigan Warriors Women Wigan, Greater Manchester Newly formed for 2018.[5]
York City Knights Ladies York, North Yorkshire

Fixtures and results

The fixtures are organised into 14 rounds, with each team only having 12 fixtures this means that every team will have a bye in two rounds of the competition.

Round 1
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee
St Helens 40–0[lower-alpha 1] York City Knights 15 April 2018, 2:00pm Ruskin Drive Sports Ground
Bradford Bulls 16–32 Leeds Rhinos 15 April 2018, 2:00pm Odsal Stadium S. Ellis
Wigan Warriors 54–0 Featherstone Rovers 15 April 2018, 2:00pm Robin Park Arena
Source:[8]

Bye: Castleford Tigers

  1. Match abandoned after 62 minutes due to injury to York's Chloe James. There had already been a 50 minute delay due to injury to St Helens' Pippa Birchill.[6][7] As over 60 minutes has been played the result stands.[6]

Round 2
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee
Featherstone Rovers 6–36 Leeds Rhinos 9 May 2018, 7:30pm[lower-alpha 1] L.D. Nutrition Stadium
Bradford Bulls 4–42 St Helens 22 April 2018, 2:00pm Provident Stadium
York City Knights 0–62 Castleford Tigers 22 April 2018, 12:00 Nestle Rowntree Sports Park
Source:[9][10]

Bye: Wigan Warriors

  1. 5 April, match postponed - waterlogged pitch

Round 3
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee
Castleford Tigers 40–16 Bradford Bulls 29 April 2018, 2:00pm Willowbridge Lane
St Helens 40–14 Featherstone Rovers 29 April 2018, 2:00pm Hattons Solicitors Crusaders Park A Billington
Wigan Warriors 14–20 Leeds Rhinos 29 April 2018, 2:00pm Robin Park Arena
Source:[11]

Bye: York City Knights

Round 4
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee
Featherstone Rovers 32–38 Castleford Tigers 13 May 2018, 2:00pm L.D. Nutrition Stadium
Bradford Bulls 72–10 York City Knights 13 May 2018, 2:00pm Odsal Stadium
Wigan Warriors 16–6 St Helens 13 May 2018, 2:00pm Robin Park Arena R Stansfield
Source:[12]

Bye: Leeds Rhinos

Round 5
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee
Castleford Tigers 14–14 Wigan Warriors 6 May 2018, 2:00pm Willowbridge Lane N Pascall
St Helens 20–14 Leeds Rhinos 20 May 2018, 2:00pm Ruskin Drive Sports Ground
York City Knights 12–40 Featherstone Rovers 20 May 2018, 2:00pm Bootham Crescent
Source:[13][14]

Bye: Bradford Bulls

Round 6
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee
Leeds Rhinos 40–12 Castleford Tigers 27 May 2018, 2:00pm Headingley Scott Fernandez
Featherstone Rovers 22–46 Bradford Bulls 26 May 2018, 12:30pm Bloomfield Road Nick Pascall
Wigan Warriors 50–0 York City Knights 10 June 2018, 2:00pm Robin Park Arena Aaron Moore
Source:[15][16]

Bye: St Helens

Round 7
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee
Castleford Tigers 14–14 St Helens 17 June 2018, 2:00pm Mend-A-Hose Jungle
Bradford Bulls 10–34 Wigan Warriors 17 June 2018, 2:00pm Odsal Stadium
Leeds Rhinos 80–0 York City Knights 17 June 2018, 2:00pm Weetwood Sports Park
Source:[17]

Bye: Featherstone Rovers

Round 8
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee
York City Knights 6–26 St Helens 24 June 2018, 2:00pm
Leeds Rhinos 30–10 Bradford Bulls 24 June 2018, 2:00pm Weetwood Sports Park Scott Fernandez
Featherstone Rovers 20–31 Wigan Warriors 24 June 2018, 2:00pm L.D. Nutrition Stadium
Source:[18]

Bye: Castleford Tigers

Round 9
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee
Leeds Rhinos 70–6 Featherstone Rovers 8 July 2018, 2:00pm
St Helens 42–12 Bradford Bulls 8 July 2018, 2:00pm Ruskin Drive
Castleford Tigers 40–10 York City Knights 8 July 2018, 2:00pm
Source:[19]

Bye: Wigan Warriors

Round 10
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee
Bradford Bulls 28–16 Castleford Tigers 12 August 2018, 2:00pm Odsal Stadium J. Powell
Featherstone Rovers 10–42 St Helens 12 August 2018, 2:00pm
Leeds Rhinos 22–23 Wigan Warriors 12 August 2018, 2:00pm
Source:[20]

Bye: York City Knights

Round 11
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee
St Helens 10–14 Wigan Warriors 19 August 2018, 2:00pm
York City Knights 8–38 Bradford Bulls 19 August 2018, 2:00pm
Castleford Tigers 34–8 Featherstone Rovers 23 September 2018, 2:00pm Castleford RUFC
Source:[21]

Bye: Leeds Rhinos

Round 12
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee
Wigan Warriors 10–12 Castleford Tigers 9 September 2018, 2:00pm
Leeds Rhinos 12–6 St Helens 9 September 2018, 2:00pm
Featherstone Rovers 12–20 York City Knights 9 September 2018, 2:00pm
Source:[22]

Bye: Bradford Bulls

Round 13
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee
Bradford Bulls 32–10 Featherstone Rovers 16 September 2018, 2:00pm Odsal Stadium
Castleford Tigers 20–32 Leeds Rhinos 16 September 2018, 2:00pm Castleford RUFC S. Fernandez
York City Knights 6–38 Wigan Warriors 16 September 2018, 2:00pm
Source:[22]

Bye: St Helens

Round 14
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee
St Helens 24–14 Castleford Tigers 28 September 2018, 2:00pm Totally Wicked Stadium S. Houghton
Wigan Warriors 26–8 Bradford Bulls 30 September 2018, 2:00pm Robin Park Arena
York City Knights 8–50 Leeds Rhinos 30 September 2018, 2:00pm
Source:[2]

Bye: Featherstone Rovers

Regular season standings

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Leeds Rhinos 12 10 0 2 438 139 +299 20 League Leaders Shield/Play off semi-finals
2 Wigan Warriors 12 9 1 2 324 128 +196 19 Play-off semi-finals
3 St Helens 12 8 1 3 316 130 +186 17
4 Castleford Tigers 12 6 2 4 318 228 +90 14
5 Bradford Bulls 12 5 0 7 292 312 −20 10
6 Featherstone Rovers 12 1 0 11 180 461 −281 2
7 York City Knights 12 1 0 11 78 548 −470 2
Source:

Play-offs

Semi-finals
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee
Leeds Rhinos 24–10 Castleford Tigers 7 October 2018, 1:00pm Weetwood Sports Village R. Stansfield
Wigan Warriors 10–6 St Helens 7 October 2018, 2:00pm Robin Park Arena
Source:[23]

Grand final
13 October 2018
1:00pm BST
Leeds Rhinos 16 – 18 Wigan Warriors
Tries: Marshall, Beevers, S. Hill
Goals: C. Hill (2)
 report
 Tries: Thompson (3), Wilson
Goals: Foley
Manchester Regional Arena
Attendance: 1,189
Referee: A. Billington
Leeds Rhinos Position Wigan Warriors
Caitlin BeeversFBRebecca Greenfield
Suze HillWGAlison Burrows
Charlotte BoothCERachel Thompson
Sophie RobinsonCEGeorgia Wilson
Madison LaverickWGMichelle Davis
Hanna ButcherSOGemma Walsh
Courtney HillSHSarah Harrison
Amy JohnsonPRHannah Goodburn
Rhiannion MarshallHKClaire Hall
Dannielle AndersonPRChloe Hammond
Aimee StaveleySRAmanda Sibbald
Manina SpurrSRVanessa Temple
Shannon LaceyLFJoanie Alpin
Frankie TownendINHolly Speakman
Sophie NuttallINCharlotte Foley
Chloe KerriganINLucy Baggaley
Ellie OldroydINGemma Hennessey

The Grand Final was played at the Manchester Regional Arena on 13 October 2018. Neither team existed when the inaugural Grand Final was played in 2017. Leeds were seeking to complete the treble (League Leaders Shield, Challenge Cup and Grand Final winners) in their first season while Wigan were seeking their first ever trophy.

Leeds scored first, when Rhiannion Marshall scored a try from close range, Courtney Hill added the conversion. Wigan hit back a few minutes later when (Rachel Thompson scored their first try. The first half remained 6–4 to Leeds until shortly before half-time, when Thompson scored her, and Wigan's second try to make the half-time score 8–6 to Wigan.

In the second half Georgia Wilson extended Wigan's lead to 12–6 and Thompson completed her hat trick to put Wigan further ahead 16–6. Leeds struck back with a Caitlin Beevers solo effort, covering 80 metres from a 20-metre restart, Courtney Hill added the extra two points. With the score at 12–16, Leeds equalised as Suze Hill scored with only three minutes left to play. The conversion attempt was missed, and in stoppage time, Wigan were awarded a penalty which Charlotte Foley kicked to give Wigan victory by 18 points to 16.[24]

References
  1. "Bradford Bulls beat Featherstone Rovers to win Women's Super League Grand Final". BBC Sport. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  2. "Women's Super League: Round 14". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,141. 1 October 2018. p. 34.
  3. "Leeds Rhinos launch women's rugby league team". Yorkshire Evening Post. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  4. "Saints and Thatto Heath Crusaders sign unique partnership". St Helens Reporter. 25 November 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  5. "Women's Super League: Wigan Warriors to set up women's rugby league team". BBC Sport. 18 October 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  6. "York City Knights Ladies lose tough opener at St Helens - with serious injuries making it worse". York Press. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  7. "Saints women make history". St Helens R.F.C. 15 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  8. "Women's Super League". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,117. 16 April 2018. p. 24.
  9. "Women's Super League". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,118. 23 April 2018. p. 26.
  10. "Women's Super League". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,121. 14 May 2018. p. 27.
  11. "Women's Super League Round Three". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,119. 30 April 2018. p. 26.
  12. "Women's Super League Round Four". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,121. 14 May 2018. p. 27.
  13. "Women's Super League Round Five". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,120. 7 May 2018. p. 30.
  14. "Women's Super League Round Five". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,122. 21 May 2018. p. 27.
  15. "Women's Super League Round Six". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,122. 28 May 2018. p. 31.
  16. "Women's Super League Round Six". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,125. 11 June 2018. p. 30.
  17. "Scoreboard:Women's Super League". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,126. 18 June 2018. p. 35.
  18. "Women's Super League Round 8". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,127. 25 June 2018. p. 28.
  19. "Women's Super League round nine". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,129. 9 July 2018. p. 30.
  20. "Women's Super League: Round 10". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,134. 13 August 2018. p. 38.
  21. "Women's Super League". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,140. 24 September 2018. p. 30.
  22. "Women's Super League: Round 13". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,139. 17 February 2018. p. 29.
  23. "Women's Super League: semi-finals". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,142. 8 October 2018. p. 23.
  24. "Last-gasp glory for Warriors". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,143. 15 October 2018. p. 24.
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