Latest news with #Women'sChallengeCup
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wigan demolish Leeds to reach first Challenge Cup final
Betfred Women's Challenge Cup semi-final Leeds (0) 14 Tries: Greening, Bryer, Howard Goal: Bennett Wigan (30) 44 Tries: Davies 2, Wilson, Banks 2, Williams, Veivers, Jones, Rowe Goals: Foubister 4 Wigan Warriors reached the Women's Challenge Cup final for the first time as they demolished two-time winners Leeds Rhinos in York. Anna Davies went in for Wigan twice inside the opening 10 minutes, while Georgia Wilson, Grace Banks, Megan Williams and Emily Veivers added to the tally by the break. Things went from bad to worse for Leeds as they lost Bella Sykes to a failed head injury assessment (HIA) and Ruby Walker to an ankle injury. Molly Jones and Banks picked up where Wigan left off, before Jenna Greening and Tally Bryer got Leeds going. But Izzy Rowe's score - shortly before Mel Howard's run-in on the hooter - ensured Warriors reached Wembley to play either St Helens or York Valkyrie. Leeds had won their past 12 meetings with Wigan, including semi-final wins in the past two seasons. Yet the Warriors quickly justified their pre-match favourites tag as they exploited weakness on the Rhinos left edge to give Davies two early scores in the right corner. Davies was inches away from a hat-trick before poor defence allowed Wilson to add a third Wigan try. Player of the match Banks turned on the afterburners to grab the first try of her brace. Williams' close-range effort and burst from Papua New Guinea international Vievers then effectively ended the game before half-time as the Warriors led 30-0. Jones broke through a couple of tackles to extend the lead and Banks then made it 38-0. An improved Leeds pulled two scores back in four minutes around the hour mark through Greening and a nice finish from Bryer - the first points Wigan had conceded in their cup run. Rowe stretched out an arm to score as Wigan responded, before Howard added a try to a superb defensive display to give Rhinos the final word. Leeds: Stead; Bryer, Greening, Boyd, Whitbread; Howard, Walker; Sykes, Bennett, Northrop, Lacey, Murray, Dainton. Interchanges: Bruce, Donnelly, Glynn, Short. Wigan: Banks; Davies, Wilson, Jones, Derbyshire; Foubister, Rowe; Coleman, Wilton, Speakman, Hunter, Power, Williams. Interchanges: Marsh, Thompson, Casey, Veivers. Referee: Tara Jones
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pakulis to leave Valkyrie to take up new opportunity in NRLW
Pakulis to leave Valkyrie to take up new opportunity in NRLW Megan Pakulis (centre) will leave York Valkyrie to take up an opportunity in the NRLW. (Image: Alan Milner/Milner Creative/York RLFC) MEGAN Pakulis will leave York Valkyrie to take up an opportunity in the NRLW. The loose forward, who joined Lindsay Anfield's side midway through last season, will link up with Gold Coast Titans later this week ahead of the new NRLW campaign, which begins in July. Gold Coast finished sixth in last year's competition, winning a third of their nine matches. Pakulis becomes the third Valkyrie to head Down Under, following prop Elisa Akpa and Hollie Mae Dodd, who became the first English woman to sign a professional rugby deal in Australia when she joined Canberra Raiders in 2023. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement She is a player who had already caught the eye of some NRLW clubs, and prior to her move to North Yorkshire, was one of four participants at a NRL combine in Las Vegas chosen to train with an elite rugby league team in Australia on an all-expenses-paid trip. The 28-year-old was one of York's standout performers last year as they defied the odds to claim back-to-back Women's Super League titles, scoring five tries in 11 appearances. And she has carried that form into their Women's Challenge Cup campaign, where she was among the scorers in last month's quarter-final rout of Leigh, earning The Press' Player of the Match. Pakulis scored five times in 11 games for the Valkyrie last season. (Image: Craig Hawkhead Photography) Director of Rugby Anfield is disappointed to lose the Canadian international, who featured in both the 2017 and 2021 World Cups, but wishes her all the best in her new adventure. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement She said: ' Whilst disappointed that Meg won't be finishing the season with us, we are extremely proud to have been part of her journey. "On and off the field, Megan has added so much value to the Valk badge and has been a first-class team mate. "The younger girls in the squad have learnt a lot from witnessing Meg's professionalism towards her athleticism and rugby. They have seen first hand what it takes to be at the top of your game. "We wish her and the Titans all the best for the season ahead." The Valkyrie return to action on Sunday as they battle St Helens for a place in the Women's Challenge Cup final at Wembley.
