2018 Women's Challenge Cup
The 2018 RFL Women's Challenge Cup was an English rugby league knockout tournament competed for by 21 teams during the summer of 2018. The competition was won by Leeds Rhinos who beat Castleford Tigers 20–14 in the final at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on 4 August 2018.[1]
| Duration | 5 rounds |
|---|---|
| Number of teams | 21 |
| Broadcast partners | Proper Sport BBC Sport |
| Winners | Leeds Rhinos |
| Runners-up | Castleford Tigers |
| Biggest home win | St Helens 78–0 Hull FC |
| Biggest away win | Hull Wyke 0–84 Army RL |
Preliminary round
The preliminary round ties were played in early May.
| Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|
| Dewsbury Celtic | 6–54 | Army RL |
| East Leeds | 14–32 | Stanningley |
| Hull F.C. | 26–22 | Oulton Raidettes |
| Whitley Bay Barbarians | 4–54 | Leigh Miners Rangers |
| Wigan St Patricks | 0–24 | Widnes Vikings |
| Source:[2] | ||
First round
The first round ties were all played on 3 June.[3] The shock result of the round was the home defeat of the cup holders, Bradford Bulls, by newly formed team Castleford Tigers.[4]
| Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|
| Barrow | 62–10 | Brighouse Rangers |
| Bradford Bulls | 14–32 | Castleford Tigers |
| Featherstone Rovers | 38–12 | Stanningley |
| Hull Wyke | 0–84 | Army RL |
| Leeds Rhinos | 58–0 | Wakefield Trinity |
| Leigh Miners Rovers | 6–72 | Wigan Warriors |
| St Helens | 78–0 | Hull F.C. |
| York City Knights | 68–0 | Widnes Vikings |
| Source:[4] | ||
Quarter-finals
The draw for the quarter-finals of the Cup were made on 6 June.[5] Ties were played on 1 July.
| Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|
| Barrow | 6–62 | York City Knights |
| Castleford Tigers | 30–16 | St Helens |
| Featherstone Rovers | 18–44 | Wigan Warriors |
| Leeds Rhinos | 46–10 | Army RL |
| Source:[6] | ||
Semi-finals
The draw for the semi-finals was made on 3 July and ties were played 15 July.[7]
| Home | Score | Away | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wigan Warriors | 8–26 | Leeds Rhinos | Robin Park Arena |
| Castleford Tigers | 48–12 | York City Knights | Mend-a-hose Jungle |
| Source:[8] | |||
Final
The final was played as a doubleheader at Warrington Wolves' Halliwell Jones stadium on Saturday 4 August 2018 along with the final of the challenge shield. In conjunction with broadcasters Proper Sport and BBC Sport the games were streamed live.[9]
| Castleford Tigers | 14 – 20 | Leeds Rhinos |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Katie Hepworth Tara-Jane Stanley Georgia Roche Goals: Katie Hepworth (1/3) |
report |
Tries: Suze Hill Caitlin Beevers Aimee Satveley Lois Forsell Goals: Courtney Hill (2/4) |
Teams:[1]
Castleford Tigers:
Backs: Tara-Jane Stanley, Maisie Burton, Courtney Pointon, Lacey Owen, Kelsey Gentles, Georgie Hetherington, Olivia Grace, Lucy Eastwood
Forwards: Lucy Eastwood, Sinead Peach, Jasmine Rowley, Katie Hepworth (c), Beth Weir, Georgia Roche
Interchanges: Jasmine Cudjoe, Tamzin Renouf, Grace Field, Emma Lumley, Marie Colley, Katie Tordoff, Shannelle Mannion
Leeds Rhinos:
Backs: Charlotte Booth, Suze Hill, Sophie Nuttall, Sophie Robinson, Caitlin Beevers, Hanna Butcher, Courtney Hill
Forwards: Amy Johnson, Lois Forsell (c), Danielle Anderson, Aimee Staveley, Manina Spurr, Shannon Lacy
Interchanges: Frankie Townend, Madison Laverick, Chloe Kerrigan, Rhiannon Marshall, Ellie Oldroyd
Challenge Shield
The eight losing teams in the second round entered into a secondary competition, the Challenge Shield.[5] The Shield was won by Bradford Bulls who beat Stanningley 44–16.
Quarter-finals
Ties were played on 1 July.
| Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|
| Brighouse Rangers | 24–0[lower-alpha 1] | Hull Wyke |
| Hull F.C. | 0–30 | Wakefield Trinity |
| Stanningley | 22–18 | Leigh Miners Rangers |
| Widnes Vikings | 0–24[lower-alpha 2] | Bradford Bulls |
| Source:[11] | ||
- Awarded score as Hull Wyke withdrew from the competition before the match was played.
- Awarded score as Widnes withdrew from the competition before the match was played.[10]
Semi-finals
The draw was made on 3 July and the matches played on 15 July.[7]
| Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|
| Stanningley | 66–4 | Brighouse Rangers |
| Wakefield Trinity | 0–58 | Bradford Bulls |
| Source:[8] | ||
Final
| Bradford Bulls | 44 – 16 | Stanningley |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Leah Jones Shona Hoyle Reegan Walker (2) Becky Conlon Amy Hardcastle (2) Jess Courtman Goals: Leah Jones (6/8) |
report |
Tries: Hayley Fielding Elychia Watson Goals: Chloe Wainwright-Morley (4/4) |
Teams:[12]
Bradford Bulls:
Backs: Leah Jones, Adara Telemacque, Savannah Andrade, Jess Courtman, Becky Conlon, Danielle Bose, Amy Boardman
Forwards: Lauren Hickey, Chrissi Nettleton, Vicky Rhodes, Shona Hoyle, Heather McDonald, Reegan Walker
Interchanges: Hayley Hields, Memphis Jubb, Stacey Greenwood, Stacey Wilson, Amy Hardcastle, Kirsty Maroney (c), Beth Sutcliffe
Stanningley:
Backs: Hayley Fielding, Allana Walker, Sophie Bickerdyke, Elychia Watson, Lauren Waller, Chloe Wainwright-Morley, Laura Dyson
Forwards: Rachael Barker, Grace Ramsden, Lyndsey Cunnett, Jodie Davies (c), Olivia Wood, Demi Fisher
Interchanges: Markelle Morgan, Louise Travers, Loren Gregory, Leanne May
See also
References
- "Rhinos fightback for the Cup". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,133. 6 August 2018. p. 14.
- "Women's Rugby League - Challenge Cup". Rugby Football League. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- "Wigan to make Women's Challenge Cup bow against Leigh". Rugby-League.com. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- Angela Powers (6 June 2018). "Up for the Cup - Highlights". Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- "Challenge Cup: Quarter-final draw". 6 June 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- "Challenge Cup: Leeds Rhinos Women to face old foe; Castleford Tigresses meet York". Yorkshire Evening Post. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- "Warriors to host Rhinos in Women's Challenge Cup semi-final". Rugby Football League. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- "Rhinos on hunt for Silverware". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,130. 16 July 2018. p. 30.
- "Women's Challenge Cup Final and Challenge Shield to be live streamed". Rugby Football League. 3 August 2018. Archived from the original on 16 August 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- "Bulls Women eye Challenge Shield Final spot". 13 July 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- "Women and Girls rugby league". Rugby Football League. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- "Bulls surge to late Shield win". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,133. 6 August 2018. p. 14.