2019 RFL Women's Super League

The 2019 RFL Women's Super League known as the Betfred Women's Super League for sponsorship reasons was the third season of the Rugby League Women's Super League for female players in clubs affiliated to the Rugby Football League.

2019 Women's Super League
Duration14 rounds
Teams8
Matches played59
Champions Leeds Rhinos
League Leaders Shield Castleford Tigers
Biggest home win Castleford Tigers 74–8 Featherstone Rovers (1 September 2019)
Biggest away win York City Knights 0–80 Castleford Tigers Women (7 April 2019)
Woman of SteelCourtney Hill

The champions were Leeds Rhinos who beat Castleford Tigers 20–12 in the Grand Final on 11 October 2019.[1] Castleford Tigers won the league leaders shield, a 44–0 win over York City Knights in round 13 put them three points clear of nearest rivals, St Helens, with a round to spare.[2]

For 2019, the number of teams was expanded from seven to eight, with the addition of Wakefield Trinity to the league.[3]

The season comprised 14 rounds, with each team playing each other home and away, commencing on 7 April and ending on 29 September. Following the regular season, the top four teams played off against each other in two semi-finals, with the Grand Final played on Friday 11 October, at the Totally Wicked Stadium in St Helens and broadcast live on Sky Sports.[4]

On 15 August 2019 it was announced that Betfred would become the sponsors of the league with immediate effect in a deal that will run until the end of the 2021 season.[5]

The defending champions were Wigan Warriors, who beat League Leaders Shield winners Leeds Rhinos, 18–16 at the Grand Final at the Manchester Regional Arena.[6] Wigan were eliminated from the play-offs after they lost 34–4 to Castleford Tigers in the semifinals.

Teams
Colours Club Location
Bradford Bulls Bradford, West Yorkshire
Castleford Tigers Castleford, West Yorkshire
Featherstone Rovers Featherstone, West Yorkshire
Leeds Rhinos Leeds, West Yorkshire
St Helens St Helens, Merseyside
Wakefield Trinity Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Wigan Warriors Wigan, Greater Manchester
York City Knights York, North Yorkshire

Fixtures and results

Round 1
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue
Bradford Bulls 38–16 Featherstone Rovers 7 April 2019, 12:45pm Odsal Stadium
Leeds Rhinos 54–4 Wakefield Trinity 7 April 2019, 1:00pm Sports Park, Weetwood
Wigan Warriors 4–6 St Helens 7 April 2019, 1:00pm Robin Park Arena
York City Knights 0–80 Castleford Tigers 7 April 2019, 2:00pm York St John University Sports Park
Source:[7]

Round 2
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue
Featherstone Rovers 16–24 Leeds Rhinos 14 April 2019, 1:30pm LD Nutrition Stadium
Wigan Warriors 14–36 Castleford Tigers 14 April 2019, 2:00pm Orrell St James
York City Knights 6–10 Wakefield Trinity 14 April 2019, 2:00pm York St John University Sports Park
St Helens 24–0 Bradford Bulls 22 April 2019, 12:00pm Totally Wicked Stadium
Source:[8]

Round 3
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue
Bradford Bulls 60–6 Wakefield Trinity 28 April 2019, 12:30pm Odsal Stadium
Castleford Tigers 27–0 Leeds Rhinos 28 April 2019, 1:00pm Mend-A-Hose Jungle
York City Knights 0–62 Wigan Warriors 28 April 2019, 2:00pm York St John University Sports Park
St Helens 54–16 Featherstone Rovers 28 April 2019, 5:45pm Totally Wicked Stadium
Source:[9]

Round 4
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue
Wigan Warriors 4–12 Leeds Rhinos 12 May 2019, 1:00pm Robin Park Arena
Castleford Tigers 30–14 St Helens 12 May 2019, 2:00pm Mend-A-Hose Jungle
Wakefield Trinity 8–40 Featherstone Rovers 12 May 2019, 2:00pm The Mobile Rocket Stadium
York City Knights 4–38 Bradford Bulls 12 May 2019, 2:00pm York St John University Sports Park
Source:[10]

Round 5
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue
York City Knights 0–50 Leeds Rhinos 2 June 2019, 12:00pm York St John University Sports Park
Wakefield Trinity 0–66 St Helens 2 June 2019, 2:00pm Mobile Rocket Stadium
Wigan Warriors 42–4 Featherstone Rovers 2 June 2019, 2:00pm Robin Park Arena
Bradford Bulls 22–42 Castleford Tigers 6 June 2019, 7:30pm Odsal Stadium
Source:[11]

Round 6
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue
Bradford Bulls 6–18 Leeds Rhinos 30 June 2019, 12:30pm Odsal Stadium
Wakefield Trinity 6–44 Wigan Warriors 30 June 2019, 1:00pm Mobile Rocket Stadium
Featherstone Rovers 20–46 Castleford Tigers 30 June 2019, 2:00pm LD Nutrition Stadium
St Helens 60–6 York City Knights 30 June 2019, 3:00pm Totally Wicked Stadium
Source:[12]

Round 7
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue
Leeds Rhinos 16–30 St Helens 21 July 2019, 12:30pm Headingley
Bradford Bulls 16–20 Wigan Warriors 21 July 2019, 1:00pm Odsal Stadium
Castleford Tigers 54–8 Wakefield Trinity 21 July 2019, 5:00pm Mend-A-Hose Jungle
Featherstone Rovers 18–16 York City Knights 22 September 2019, 2:00pm LD Nutrition Stadium
Source:[13][14]

Round 8
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue
Castleford Tigers 50–16 Bradford Bulls 4 August 2019, 1:00pm Mend-A-Hose Jungle
Featherstone Rovers 18–16 Wigan Warriors 4 August 2019, 1:00pm LD Nutrition Stadium
Leeds Rhinos 30–0[lower-alpha 1] York City Knights 4 August 2019, 1:00pm Sports Park, Weetwood
St Helens 60–0 Wakefield Trinity 4 August 2019, 5:00pm Totally Wicked Stadium
Source:[16]
  1. Match abandoned after 39 minutes due to Sophie Robinson suffering a serious leg injury. The score at the time was 30–0, after consultation with both clubs the RFL decided not to order the game to be replayed with the score at the time of abandonment to stand as the result.[15]

Round 9
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue
Bradford Bulls 18–32 St Helens 11 August 2019, 1:00pm Odsal Stadium
Castleford Tigers 56–8 Wigan Warriors 11 April 2019, 1:00pm Mend-A-Hose Jungle
Leeds Rhinos 52–0 Featherstone Rovers 11 August 2019, 1:00pm Sports Park, Westwood
Wakefield Trinity 4–20 York City Knights 11 August 2019, 2:00pm Sharlston Rovers
Source:[17]

Round 10
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue
Leeds Rhinos 26–36 Castleford Tigers 17 August 2019, 1:00pm Emerald Headingley
Wakefield Trinity 4–48 Bradford Bulls 18 August 2019, 1:00pm The Mobile Rocket Stadium
Featherstone Rovers 7–50 St Helens 18 August 2019, 2:00pm L D Nutrition Stadium
Wigan Warriors 42–0 York City Knights 18 August 2019, 2:00pm Robin Park Arena
Source:[18]

Round 11
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue
Castleford Tigers 74–8 Featherstone Rovers 1 September 2019, 1:00pm Mend-A-Hose Jungle
York City Knights 0–56 St Helens 1 September 2019, 1:00pm York St John University
Wigan Warriors 52–6 Wakefield Trinity 1 September 2019, 2:00pm Robin Park Arena
Source:[19]

Round 12
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue
Wakefield Trinity 4–36 Castleford Tigers 8 September 2019, 1:00pm The Mobile Rocket Stadium
Wigan Warriors 20–20 Bradford Bulls 8 September 2019, 2:00pm Robin Park Arena
York City Knights 16–26 Featherstone Rovers 8 September 2019, 2:00pm York St John University
St Helens 20–20 Leeds Rhinos 8 September 2019, 3:00pm Ruskin Park
Source:[20]

Round 13
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue
Wakefield Trinity 4–66 Leeds Rhinos 14 September 2019, 1:00pm The Mobile Rocket Stadium
Featherstone Rovers 22–14 Bradford Bulls 15 September 2019, 2:00pm L D Nutrition Stadium
St Helens 28–0 Wigan Warriors 15 September 2019, 2:00pm Ruskin Park
Castleford Tigers 44–0 York City Knights 17 September 2019, 7:00pm Mend-A-Hose Jungle
Source:[21]

Round 14
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue
Featherstone Rovers 26–0 Wakefield Trinity 29 September 2019, 1:00pm LD Nutrition Stadium
Bradford Bulls P–P[lower-alpha 1] York City Knights 29 September 2019, 2:00pm Neil Hunt Memorial Ground
Leeds Rhinos 16–0 Wigan Warriors 29 September 2019, 2:15pm Weetwood Sports Park
St Helens 20–14 Castleford Tigers 29 September 2019, 3:00pm Ruskin Park
Source:[22]
  1. match postponed, pitch unplayable due to heavy rain

Play-off semi-finals
Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee
Castleford Tigers 34–4 Wigan Warriors 6 October 2019, 13:00 Mend-A-Hose Jungle
St Helens 14–18 Leeds Rhinos 6 October 2019, 13:00 Totally Wicked Stadium A. Moore
Source:[23]

Grand final
11 October 2019
19:30
Castleford Tigers 12–20 Leeds Rhinos
Tries: Lumb, Owen, Gentles
Goals: Stanley 0/3
 report
 Tries: Goldthorp 2, Eatock, Frain
Goals: Hill 2/4
Totally Wicked Stadium
Attendance: 1,673
Referee: Greg Dolan
Castleford Tigers Position Leeds Rhinos
#1 Tara Stanley Fullback #1 Caitlin Beevers
#16 Maisie Lumb Wing #15 Sophie Nuttall
#24 Lucy Eastwood Centre #30 Abby Eatock
#12 Lacey Owen Centre #16 Chloe Karrigan
#4 Kelsey Gentles Wing #24 Fran Goldthorp
#6 Georgia Roche Stand-off #6 Hannah Butcher
#33 Jasmine Cudjoe Scrum-half #7 Courtney Hill (c)
#10 Grace Field Prop #10 Danielle Anderson
#9 Sinead Peach Hooker #14 Tasha Gaines
#68 Shona Hoyle Prop #13 Amy Johnson
#28 Hollie Dodd Second-row #11 Aimee Staveley
#11 Tamzin Renouf Second-row #4 Charlotte Booth
#13 Rhiannon Marshall Loose forward #28 Paige Webster
#14 Sammy Watts interchange #27 Keara Bennett
#8 Emma Lumley interchange #19 Elle Frain
#31 Frankie Townend interchange #8 Danika Priim
#44 Emma Slowe interchange #22 Elle Oldroyd

Leeds completed a league and cup double with 20–12 victory over Castleford in the Grand Final on 11 October 2019. In a game televised live on Sky Sports Castleford took an early advantage with two tries in the first five minute; the scorers being Maisie Lumb and Lacey Owen. Leeds pulled a try back through Abby Eatock and these were the only points of the first half with the half-time score being 8–4 to Castleford.

In the second half, it was Leeds who proved to be the stronger side with three tries in close succession, two for 16-year old winger Fran Goldthorp and one for Elle Frain. Leeds captain Courtney Hill converted two of the tries to give Leeds a 20–8 lead. Kelsey Gentles did score a late try for Castleford to make the score 20–12 but it was too late for Castleford to catch up.[24]

Standings
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Castleford Tigers 14 13 0 1 625 160 +465 26 League Leaders Shield/Play off semi-finals
2 St Helens 14 12 1 1 522 131 +391 25 Play-off semi-finals
3 Leeds Rhinos 14 10 1 3 410 151 +259 21
4 Wigan Warriors 14 6 1 7 328 224 +104 13
5 Featherstone Rovers 14 6 0 8 237 450 −213 12
6 Bradford Bulls 13 4 1 8 300 282 +18 9
7 York City Knights 13 1 0 12 68 522 −454 2
8 Wakefield Trinity 14 1 0 13 64 634 −570 2
Source:

References
  1. "Castleford 12-20 Leeds: Teenage winger Fran Goldthorp stars as Rhinos complete women's cup double". Daily Mirror. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  2. "Glory for Tigers". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,192. 23 September 2019. p. 22.
  3. "Wakefield Trinty join Women's Super League for 2019 season". BBC Sport. 3 December 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  4. "Sky Sports to broadcast Women's Super League Grand Final". Love Rugby League. 17 September 2019.
  5. "Betfred sponsor Women's Super League as Grand Final brought forward". Love Rugby League. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  6. "Women's Super League Grand Final: Wigan Warriors beat Leeds Rhinos to win title". BBC Sport. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  7. "Women's Super League Round One". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,168. 8 April 2019. p. 31.
  8. "Frain stars as Rhinos win". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,169. 15 April 2019. p. 29.
  9. "Tigers road past Challenge Cup holders". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,171. 29 April 2019. p. 30.
  10. "Women's Super League Round Four". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,173. 13 May 2019. p. 26.
  11. "Tigers roar on". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,177. 10 June 2019. p. 32.
  12. "Fev stubborn, but Cas too strong". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,180. 1 July 2019. p. 32.
  13. "Fev stubborn, but Cas too strong". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,180. 1 July 2019. p. 32.
  14. "Rovers snatch it late". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,192. 23 September 2019. p. 22.
  15. "Abandoned women's game between Leeds and York will not be replayed". Love Rugby League. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  16. "Tigers bounce back in style". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,185. 5 August 2019. p. 35.
  17. "Clayton guides York to first win". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,186. 12 August 2019. p. 28.
  18. "Tigers have too much for Rhinos". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,187. 19 August 2019. p. 29.
  19. "Tigeresses march on". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,189. 2 September 2019. p. 30.
  20. "Play-off race stays alive". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,190. 9 September 2019. p. 30.
  21. "Saints hammer Warriors". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,191. 16 September 2019. p. 27.
  22. "Tigers finally tamed". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,192. 30 September 2019. p. 21.
  23. "Betfred Women's Super League semi-finals". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,194. 7 October 2019. p. 18.
  24. Marsden, Lorraine (14 October 2019). "Leeds a thorn in Tigers' side again". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,195. p. 27.
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