Latest news with #WomensChallengeCup
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Wigan thrash Saints to win first Women's Challenge Cup
Betfred Women's Challenge Cup finalSt Helens (0) 6Try: Motterhead, Goal: GaskinWigan (18) 42Tries: Williams, Coleman, Veivers, Rowe, Hunter, Banks, Davies Goals: Rowe 7 Wigan Warriors ran in seven tries to thrash St Helens and win the Women's Challenge Cup for the first time, ending their rivals hold on the Cherry and Whites were ahead inside 10 minutes when Megan Williams touched down and they edged further in front through Mary Veivers charged through for Wigan's third try and an 18-0 half-time lead, and Isabel Rowe picked up where they left off after the break by scoring minutes into the second got on the board through Katie Mottershead but Eva Hunter, Grace Banks and Anna Davies ensured Wigan would earn a derby win on the biggest stage of a Wembley is the first time that Wigan have won the competition since its inception in 2012 and ends St Helens' run of four straight wins in the tournament in 2021, 2022, 2023 and victory also means that boss Denis Betts, who won seven Challenge Cups with Wigan as a player, claimed his first piece of silverware as a coach. More to follow. St Helens: Salihi; Hook, McColm, Hardcastle, McGifford; Harris, Gaskin; Stott, Casey, Crowl, Hoye, Rudge, Whitfield, Mottershead, Sutherland, Banks; Davies, Wilson, Jones, Derbyshire; Foubister, Rowe; Coleman, Wilton, Speakman, Hunter, Power, Marsh, Molyneux, Thompson, Veivers.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Not trying to be men's team' - Betts on Wigan rise
Betfred Women's Challenge Cup final - St Helens v Wigan WarriorsVenue: Wembley Stadium Date: Saturday, 7 June Kick-off: 11:45 BST Coverage: Live on BBC Two from 11:15 BST; commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3; live text on BBC Sport website & app Wigan Warriors turned some heads when they reached the Women's Challenge Cup final earlier this say they thrashed Leeds Rhinos is an Betts' side demolished the two-time winners 44-14 and, short of a late Leeds rally, Wigan never looked in much danger over the course of the 80 signalled the rise of another side to the very top of the women's game in England, with St Helens and York dominating the past few years along with what is the secret to Wigan's recent ascent? And where did that performance against Leeds come from?Ahead of their derby meeting with reigning champions St Helens in this weekend's Women's Challenge Cup final, BBC Sport has taken a look at one of the most impressive upturns of late. Prior to the semi-final in May, Leeds had won their past 12 meetings with despite that record, Warriors, who lead the Super League table after three wins from three, went into the tie in fine legend Betts said there is no secret to why his side have stormed their way into 2025 but the key was forging their own path rather than mimicking the efforts of their quadruple-winning men's team."What we've tried to do as a team is that we're not trying to look like a men's team," former Wigan and Great Britain second row Betts, 55, told BBC Sport."We're not trying to look like anything other than who we are as a group of young, inspirational women who want to play rugby, pass the ball and want it to be exciting and enjoy it."I think you can see that in the way we play." As a player, Betts won seven men's Challenge Cups among a raft of trophies with an all-conquering Wigan side during nine years with the club from 1986 to coaching spells at a number of clubs including Widnes, he returned to Wigan as women's head coach in 2024 and swiftly set about turning around their last season's Challenge Cup, they were beaten at the semi-final stage by eventual finalists Leeds Rhinos, and Betts has seen the progression in his side ever loss shaped his side and despite the result, he believes that where the team is now was borne out of their experiences in 2024."It took a few games and months to get going but we saw a little bit of it in the semi-final [in 2024] when we were beaten by Leeds at St Helens," Betts added."We saw glimpses of it and throughout this season we've slowly got better and it culminated in a really strong win at York against Leeds [in 2025's semi-final]."We've given ourselves a chance in the top four but we've never really taken that and put a performance in that would give us a real foothold in that elite group, so to speak."So we went away and dusted ourselves down. The squad has changed a little bit but not massively, we've still got the core element of what that group is and they've worked really hard." Despite their recent progression, Betts is not putting pressure on his side to succeed at Wembley, knowing that it is an achievement in itself to get its formation in 2012, Wigan have never reached the Women's Challenge Cup final but know they have their work cut out if they are to beat holders Saints, who have won the competition the past four years running."Wembley is a fantastic occasion - but it's not the be-all and end-all," Betts continued."This is a group that is getting better and this is just another step along the way. It's not the end of anything and it's not the start."This is just a thing that is in that journey and that's what we need - and they need to want that and add meaning to what we are trying to do more of."
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Saints beat Valkyrie to reach Challenge Cup final
Betfred Women's Challenge Cup semi-final St Helens (2) 10 Try: Hoyle Goals: Gaskin 2, Harris York Valkyrie (0) 6 Try: Marshall Goal: Williamson St Helens reached their fifth consecutive Women's Challenge Cup final with victory in a tight, error-strewn semi-final win over York Valkyrie. Saints will face Wigan Warriors at Wembley on 7 June after a try from Shona Hoyle and the trusty kicking of Faye Gaskin saw them home at the Totally Wicked Stadium. Reigning Women's Super League champions Valkyrie, who have now lost to Saints in the last four for the past three years, hit back through Rhiannon Marshall but Saints kept them at arm's length. That means Saints, who lost to Valkyrie in the Grand Final last year, stay on course for a record-extending fifth consecutive triumph in the competition. More to follow St Helens: Salihi; Hook, E Stott, Hardcastle, McGifford; Harris, Gaskin; Crowl, Casey, D. Stott, Hoyle, Rudge, Cunningham. Interchanges: Whitfield, Mottershead, Sutherland, McColm. York Valkyrie: Dagger; Partington, Renouf, Rampton, Kershaw; Rihari, Williamson; Brennan, Peach, Parker, Andrade, Wood, Bell. Interchanges: Bibby, Marshall, Hornby, Stimpson.
BBC News
11-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Saints beat Valkyrie to reach Challenge Cup final
Betfred Women's Challenge Cup semi-finalSt Helens (2) 10Try: Hoyle Goals: Gaskin 2, HarrisYork Valkyrie (0) 6Try: Marshall Goal: Williamson St Helens reached their fifth consecutive Women's Challenge Cup final with victory in a tight, error-strewn semi-final win over York will face Wigan Warriors at Wembley on 7 June after a try from Shona Hoyle and the trusty kicking of Faye Gaskin saw them home at the Totally Wicked Women's Super League champions Valkyrie, who have now lost to Saints in the last four for the past three years, hit back through Rhiannon Marshall but Saints kept them at arm's means Saints, who lost to Valkyrie in the Grand Final last year, stay on course for a record-extending fifth consecutive triumph in the to follow St Helens: Salihi; Hook, E Stott, Hardcastle, McGifford; Harris, Gaskin; Crowl, Casey, D. Stott, Hoyle, Rudge, Whitfield, Mottershead, Sutherland, Valkyrie: Dagger; Partington, Renouf, Rampton, Kershaw; Rihari, Williamson; Brennan, Peach, Parker, Andrade, Wood, Bibby, Marshall, Hornby, Stimpson.
BBC News
10-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wigan demolish Leeds to reach first-ever Cup final
Betfred Women's Challenge Cup semi-finalLeeds (0) 14Tries: Greening, Bryer, Howard Goal: BennettWigan (30) 44Tries: Davies 2, Wilson, Banks 2, Williams, Vievers, Jones, Rowe Goals: Foubister 4 Wigan Warriors reached the Women's Challenge Cup for the first time after demolishing two-time winners Leeds Rhinos in Davies went in for Wigan twice inside the opening 10 minutes, while Georgia Wilson, Grace Banks, Megan Williams and Emily Vievers added to the tally by the went from bad to worse after that for Leeds as they lost Bella Sykes to a failed head injury assessment (HIA) and Ruby Walker to an ankle Jones and Banks picked up where Wigan left off, before Jenna Greening and Tally Bryer got Leeds Izzy Rowe's score - shortly before Mel Howard's run-in on the hooter - ensured Denis Betts' side reached to follow. Leeds: Stead; Bryer, Greening, Boyd, Whitbread; Howard, Walker; Sykes, Bennett, Northrop, Lacey, Murray, Bruce, Donnelly, Glynn, Banks; Davies, Wilson, Jones, Derbyshire; Foubister, Rowe; Coleman, Wilton, Speakman, Hunter, Power, Marsh, Thompson, Casey, Tara Jones.
