Three teams a step closer to Wembley Stadium following another weekend of Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup action

Leeds Rhinos broke their own win record with a 104-0 victory over Sheffield Eagles in their second Betfred Women's Challenge Cup game to finish their group matches undefeated. 

The previous record had been 92-0 against Leigh in 2022 but a hattrick from Izzy Northrop and a record equalling five tries from Ebony Stead ensured the Rhinos finished as comfortable winners in a dominant performance. The game was declared by the referee after 60 minutes after Sheffield were reduced to nine players through injury. 

Stead opened up the try scoring after just a minute and there was no let up for the home side from there with the Rhinos notching up an incredible 80 points in the first 40 minutes. 

The second half gave interim head coach Leon Crick the opportunity to give debuts to Tally Bryer and Lacey Owen and it wasn't long before they made their impact, with Bryer getting her first try for the club after 47 minutes. 

The Rhinos will now face the runners up of Group B in the next stage of the competition.  

St Helens weren’t far behind the Rhinos on Saturday demolishing local rivals Warrington Wolves 102-0 at the Totally Wicked Stadium. 

The Wolves conceded 19 tries with Amy Hardcastle crossing for four in the first half, while there were further hattricks for Katie Mottershead and former Wire player Georgia Sutherland. 

Shona Hoyle opened Saints’ account with the first try on seven minutes, skipping through the Warrington defence after being put through by prop Chantelle Crowl. 

From then on, it was a procession of scores for the Challenge Cup holders as Warrington just couldn’t handle the power and pace of their opponents.  

Saints will now make the journey south to face Cardiff Demons on Saturday afternoon in their final group game (19 April, KO 2.30pm). 

York Valkyrie have also finished top of their Challenge Cup group following a 54-6 win over Featherstone Rovers at the LNER Community Stadium on Sunday. 

Savannah Andrade got a hat-trick as the Valkyrie scored eleven tries, five converted by Ellie Williamson. 

There were also braces for Jazz Rampton, Tara Moxon and Tamzin Renouf as York progressed with two wins from two in Group B. 

Lindsay Anfield’s side will play the runners up of Group C in the quarter-finals. 

Wigan Warriors confirmed their progression into the knockout stages of the competition with a nine-try victory over London Broncos in the capital. 

The home defence worked hard in the opening 15 minutes, letting Wigan in just once with Mary Coleman crossing but they were then hit with a rapid double when Eva Hunter and Emily Veivers crossed within the space of three minutes. 

The Broncos struggled to gain territory throughout the first half and went into the break trailing 30-0. 

Whilst the Broncos managed to get a bit more of a foothold in the game in the second half, further scores from Molly Jones, Tiana Power and Kaitlin Hilton saw the visitors record a 44-0 victory. 

With a first-place finish in the group stage now confirmed the Warriors will come up against either Cardiff Demons or St Helens on April 26/27. 

The final round of group stage fixtures will take place this weekend (April 19/20) - the winners and runners up of each group will then progress to the quarter finals on April 26/27 ahead of the semi-finals on May 10/11.

Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup results & remaining Group Stage fixtures:

Group A

Sunday 6 April

Warrington Wolves 14 Cardiff Demons 42

Saturday 12 April

St Helens 102 Warrington Wolves 0

Saturday 19 April

Cardiff Demons v St Helens (KO 2.30pm, Cardiff University)

Group B

Sunday 6 April 

Huddersfield Giants 0 York Valkyrie 56

Sunday 13 April

York Valkyrie 54 Featherstone Rovers 6

Friday 18 April

Featherstone Rovers v Huddersfield Giants (KO 8pm, Millenium Stadium) 

Group C

Saturday 5 April

Leeds Rhinos 4 Leigh Leopards 46

Saturday 12 April 

Sheffield Eagles 0 Leeds Rhinos 104 

Sunday 20 April 

Leigh Leopards v Sheffield Eagles (KO 1pm, Leigh Sports Village)

Group D

Sunday 6 April 

Wigan Warriors 84 Barrow Raiders 0

Sunday 13 April

London Broncos 0 Wigan Warriors 44 

Sunday 20 April 

Barrow Raiders v London Broncos (KO 12pm, Craven Park)

The Betfred Women's Challenge Cup is part of a Finals Day triple-header at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 7 June, alongside the finals of the Men's 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup Final and AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final. Plus, there will be the traditional Year 7 Boys’ Champion Schools Final. Tickets are on sale now! 

Photo Credit: shotbybamboo