2019 RFL Women's Challenge Cup

The 2019 RFL Women's Challenge Cup also known as the Coral Women's Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons was an English rugby league knockout tournament competed for by 27 teams during the summer of 2019. The competition was sponsored by Coral who are also the sponsor of the men's Challenge Cup.[1] Defending their title where Leeds Rhinos who beat Castleford Tigers 20–14 in the final at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on 4 August 2018.[2]

2019 Women's Challenge Cup
Duration6 rounds
Number of teams27
Broadcast partnersBBC Sport
WinnersLeeds Rhinos
Runners-upCastleford Tigers
Biggest home winWarrington Wolves 80–12 Wigan St Patricks
Biggest away winWakefield Trinity 0–100 Castleford Tigers
Player of the Match Courtney Hill

They successfully defended their title after beating Castleford Tigers 16–10, in a repeat of the 2018 Final.

Format

The competition is knockout tournament and will be played over six rounds. The teams competing for the cup are the eight teams of the Women's Super League who will enter the competition at the second round stage, the eight teams of the Women's Championship who entered the competition at the first round stage, the nine teams of the Women's League 1 and teams representing the British Army and the Royal Air Force.[3]

The number of teams entering the competition necessitates the introduction of a preliminary round. All 11 teams from League 1 and the armed forces were entered into the preliminary round draw to be played on 21 April, three ties were drawn, and the five teams not drawn were given a bye to the first round.[3]

The first round consisted of eight ties and was played on 5 May; (The winners from the preliminary round, the five teams with a bye and the eight teams of the Championship.) The second round also consisted of eight ties, featuring the winners from the first round and the eight Super League teams, and was played on 26 May. After the second round, there was the quarter-finals (23 June), semi-finals (7 July) and the final.[3] The final will be played at the University of Bolton Stadium on Saturday 27 July 2019 and will be part of a triple header bill with the semi-finals of the men's Challenge Cup.[4]

Preliminary round

The draw for the preliminary round was made on 14 March 2019, the five teams who were not drawn and were awarded a bye to the first round were the Army and League 1 sides East Leeds, Halifax, Keighley Albion and Wigan St Patricks. The three ties drawn were due to be played on 21 April but only one tie was played as West Leeds Eagles and Whitley Bay Barbarians withdrew from the competition before the ties were played and the ties awarded to their opponents, Hull Kingston Rovers and Rochdale Hornets respectively. In the one game played Cutsyke lost at home 16–20 to the RAF.[5]

First round

Prior to the draw for the first round being made East Leeds withdrew from the competition and were replaced by Featherstone Lionesses.[6] The draw for the first round was made on 22 April 2019, the winners from the preliminary round joined the teams that received a bye. The eight ties drawn were played on 4-5 May.

Home Score Away
British Army 34–12 Huddersfield Giants
Featherstone Lionesses 18–46 Stanningley
Halifax 24–14 Hull KR
Keighley Albion 24–22 Hull FC
RAF 28–18 Leigh Miners Rangers
Rochdale Hornets 12–56 Barrow Raidettes
Warrington Wolves 80–12 Wigan St Patricks
Widnes Vikings 16–14 Oulton Raidettes
Source:[7][8]

Second round

The draw for the second round was made on 5 May 2019, the eight teams from the Women's Super League join the winners from the first round. The ties were played on 23 and 26 May.[9]

Home Score Away
Barrow Raidettes 18–38 Warrington Wolves
British Army 14–50 Wigan Warriors
Castleford Tigers 48–4 Featherstone Rovers
Keighley Albion 50–9 Halifax
RAF 0–56 Bradford Bulls
Stanningley 0–96 St Helens
Wakefield Trinity 20–6 Widnes Vikings
York City Knights 0–70 Leeds Rhinos
Source:[10]

Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter-finals was made on 2 June 2019 at Odsal Stadium after the men's Challenge Cup draw. The ties were played on 23 June.

Home Score Away Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Castleford Tigers 48–8 Bradford Bulls 23 June 2019 Mend-A-Hose Jungle 1,492
Keighley Albion 24–26 Wakefield Trinity
Leeds Rhinos 74–0 Warrington Wolves 23 June 2019 Headingley
St Helens 36–0 Wigan Warriors 23 June 2019 Totally Wicked Stadium
Source:[11]

Semi-finals

The draw for the semi-finals was made on 23 June 2019. The ties were played on 7 July.

Home Score Away Venue Referee Attendance
St Helens 10–16 Leeds Rhinos Totally Wicked Stadium L. Rush 738
Wakefield Trinity 0–100 Castleford Tigers Mobile Rocket Stadium J. Turner 913
Source:[12]

After the game between Castleford and Wakefield it was discovered that Castleford had fielded an illegible player, Francesca Townend. After consideration the RFL decided to let the result of the game stand and not disqualify Castleford from the competition as the RFL board decided that it was a "genuine administrative error by the club rather than a deliberate act". Any further action against the club or Townend was passed to the Competition Discipline Panel for discussion at a later date.[13]

Final

The final saw a repeat of the 2018 Final between holders Leeds Rhinos and Castleford Tigers, and was played at The University of Bolton Stadium on 27 July 2019, as part of a triple header bill with the semi-finals of the men's Challenge Cup.

27 July 2019
11:15
Castleford Tigers 10–16 Leeds Rhinos
Try: Rhiannon Marshall, Tamzin Renouf
Goal: Tara-Jane Stanley (1/2)
 report Try: Fran Goldthorp, Caitlin Beevers, Courtney Hill
Goal: Courtney Hill (2/3)
University of Bolton Stadium
Attendance: 4,000 (est)[lower-alpha 1]
Referee: Cameron Worsley
  1. The game was the first game in a triple-header with the men's Challenge Cup semi-finals between Warrington Wolves vs Hull F.C. and Halifax vs St. Helens, total attendance was 24,364 with an estimate of 4,000 being present for this game

Teams[14]
Castleford Tigers Backs: Tara-Jane Stanley, Hollie Dodd, Lacey Owen, Olivia Grace, Kelsey Gentles, Georgia Roche, Claire Garner
Forwards: Grace Field, Sinead Peach, Emma Lumley, Tamzin Renouf, Shona Hoyle, Rhiannon Marshall
Interchanges: Sammy Watts, Kirsty Higo (not used), Esme Reynolds, Jasmine Cudjoe

Leeds Rhinos Backs: Caitlin Beevers, Sophie Nuttall, Sophie Robinson, Chloe Kerigan, Fran Goldthorp, Hanna Butcher, Courtney Hill
Forwards: Danielle Anderson, Tasha Gaines, Amy Johnson, Aimee Staveley, Charlotte Booth, Shannon Lacey
Interchanges: Danika Prim, Keara Benenett, Ellie Frain, Ellie Oldroyd

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References
  1. "Challenge Cup: Catalans to defend Coral-sponsored trophy in 2019". BBC Sport. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  2. "Rhinos fightback for the Cup". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (3, 133). 6 August 2018. p. 14.
  3. "Coral Women's Challenge Cup Preliminary Round draw". RFL. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  4. "Coral pens historic sponsorship deal of RFL Challenge Cups". SBC. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  5. "Cutsyke 16-20 RAF Ladies". Rugby Football League. 21 April 2019.
  6. "Lois Forsell to conduct Coral Women's Challenge Cup first round draw". Leeds Rhinos. 18 April 2019.
  7. "Women's Rugby League - Coral Challenge Cup". Rugby Football League. 5 May 2019.
  8. "Wolves in show of strength". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (3, 172). 6 May 2019. p. 27.
  9. "Women's Challenge Cup round two draw confirmed". Love Rugby League. 6 May 2019.
  10. "Trinity get the job done". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (3, 175). 27 May 2019. p. 28.
  11. "Saints earn derby win". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (3, 179). 24 June 2019. p. 28.
  12. "Coral Women's Challenge Cup: Semi Finals". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (3, 181). 8 July 2019. p. 29.
  13. "Women's Challenge Cup: Castleford Tigers into final despite ineligible player breach". BBC Sport. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  14. "Rhinos get Bolton Treble off to a flyer". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (3, 184). 29 July 2019. p. 23.
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