2018 RFL 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]

2018 Women's Challenge Cup

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

First round

The first 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]

Second round

The second round ties were all played on 3 June. The shock result of the round was the home defeat of the cup holders, Bradford Bulls, by newly formed team Castleford Tigers.[3]

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:[3]

Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter-finals of the Cup were made on 6 June.[4] 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:[5]

Semi-finals

The draw for the semi-finals was made on 3 July and ties were played 15 July.[6]

Home	Score	Away	Venue
Wigan Wariors	8–26	Leeds Rhinos	Robin Park Arena
Castleford Tigers	48–12	York City Knights	Mend-a-hose Jungle
Source:[7]

Challenge Shield

The eight losing teams in the second round entered into a secondary competition, the Challenge Shield.[4] 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:[9]

1. Awarded score as Hull Wyke withdrew from the competition before the match was played.
2. Awarded score as Widnes withdrew from the competition before the match was played.[8]

Semi-finals

The draw was made on 3 July and the matches played on 15 July.[6]

Home	Score	Away
Stanningley	66–4	Brighouse Rangers
Wakefield Trinity	0–58	Bradford Bulls
Source:[7]

Finals

The finals of both competitions were played as a doubleheader at Warrington Wolves' Halliwell Jones stadium on Saturday 4 August 2018. In conjunction with broadcasters Proper Sport and BBC Sport the games were streamed live.[10]

Final

4 August 2018 3:00 pm BST

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)

Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington Attendance: 1,022 Referee: Neil Pascall

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, Sinaed 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

4 August 2018 1:00 pm BST

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)

Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington Attendance: 1,022 Referee: Neil Pascall

Teams:[11]
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

References

1. "Rhinos fightback for the Cup". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (3, 133). 6 August 2018. p. 14.
2. "Women's Rugby League - Challenge Cup". Rugby Football League. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
3. Angela Powers (6 June 2018). "Up for the Cup - Highlights". Retrieved 17 August 2018.
4. "Challenge Cup: Quarter-final draw". 6 June 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
5. "Challenge Cup: Leeds Rhinos Women to face old foe; Castleford Tigresses meet York". Yorkshire Evening Post. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
6. "Warriors to host Rhinos in Women's Challenge Cup semi-final". Rugby Football League. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
7. "Rhinos on hunt for Silverware". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (3, 130). 16 July 2018. p. 30.
8. "Bulls Women eye Challenge Shield Final spot". 13 July 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
9. "Women and Girls rugby league". Rugby Football League. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
10. "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.
11. "Bulls surge to late Shield win". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (3, 133). 6 August 2018. p. 14.