2019 Women's Challenge Cup Quarter Final Review

The Women's Challenge Cup Quarter finals opened with holders Leeds Rhinos cruising to a 74-0 win over Championship side Warrington Wolves Women. The Rhinos struck their opening score in the 10th minute as Courtney Hill crossed and converted for 6-0. She was then to improve an effort from Hanna Butcher as the hosts led 12-0. Warrington's defence was carved open again with a brace from Fran Goldthorp, Hill continuing her 100% record with the conversions for 24-0. The lead became 40-0 into the interval as Butcher and Hill completed braces while Chloe Kerrigan scooted over, Hill converting all but the latter.

The Rhinos spree continued in the second half with Caitlin Beevers crossing before Hill wrapped up her hat-trick for a 50-0 lead. Charlotte Booth (Hill conv) crossed to extend the lead further before Sophie Robinson went over ahead of a brace try from Kerrigan and hat-trick score from Goldthorp, the gloss on the win came as Robinson claimed her brace in the 74-0 hammering.

In attendance for the derby clash at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Sunday with St Helens Women easing to a 36-0 victory over Wigan Warriors Women. A close first half saw the hosts lead 10-0 after tries from Leah Burke and Lizzie Gladman coupled with a single conversion from Faye Gaskin. 

Recent meetings between the sides have been close but this time saw the Saints run riot after the interval, Zoe Harris, Emily Rudge and Tara Jones all racing over before the hour mark, Gaskin converting the lot for 28-0. A miserable afternoon for the Warriors was completed by two further tries from Burke who completed her hat-trick in the 36-0 win.

Castleford Tigers Women secured a spot in the last four with a comfortable 48-8 win over Bradford Bulls Women. The Tigresses flew out of the block with Rhiannon Marshall, Maisie Lumb and Kelsey Gentles all crossing for tries which saw Tara Stanley convert once for 14-0. The Bulls hit back through Savannah Andrade before Courtney Pointon resumed the hosts' control at 18-4 and the Bulls would have the final say on the half as Amy Hardcastle touched down for 18-8 at the interval.

The hosts took full control in the second half, Gentles and Marshall completing braces either side of a Tamzin Renouf try which Stanley improved for 32-8. Gentles completed her hat-trick ahead of a self-converted score from Stanley who rounded off the win as she converted a last-gasp try from Georgia Roche for 48-8.

The closest tie of the round saw Wakefield Trinity Ladies edge a 26-24 win over League One side Keighley Albion. Albion opened the scoring early on for a 4-0 lead which was soon levelled by a Chloe Billington try which Lisa Taylor converted for 6-4. Keighley went back in front at 8-6 before Hannah Watt crossed and Taylor kicked for 12-8. Taylor added a penalty goal before Albion cut the gap to  14-12 into the interval.

Shillito converted a for the try after the restart for a 18-14 lead but Trin hit back through Saskia Lewis' try and Taylor's conversion for 20-18. Once again, Albion regained the lead with Shillito kicking her third conversion but the tie was to be won by Trin as Billington crossed for her second try which Taylor converted for 26-24. Keighley's tries were scored by Laura Ackroyd, Jodee Loader and a hat-trick from Emma Templeton. 

2019 Super League Round 19 Review

Round 19 began on Thursday night as London Broncos edge a narrow 26-24 win over fellow relegation battlers Hull Kingston Rovers. London struck early with a Kieran Dixon penalty goal for 2-0 before Morgan Smith crossed to make it 6-0 on 23 minutes. Dixon added another penalty goal for an 8-0 lead before Weller Hauraki replied for the Robins with Ryan Shaw converting for 8-6 into the interval.

The Robins flew out of the blocks after the restart with Adam Quinlan, Chris Atkin crossing inside six minutes with Shaw converting twice for an 18-8 lead for the visitors. The Broncos response saw Alex Walker, Jordan Abdull and Rob Butler all go over with Dixon improving the lot to give them a 26-18 advantage that was soon cut by Josh Drinkwater's try and Shaw's conversion to just two points but the Broncos managed to hold on to secure a 26-24 win.

In attendance on Friday night at the John Smith's Stadium as Wigan Warriors claimed a 38-22 win over Huddersfield Giants. The Warriors opened the scoring with a self-converted try from Chris Hankinson inside six minutes before Hudds levelled with a Sam Hewitt try and Lee Gaskell conversion for 6 all. Wigan regained the lead with scores from Sean O'Loughlin and Liam Marshall with Hankinson converting both for an 18-6 lead. The lead narrowed to 18-12 at the interval after Matt Frawley crossed for the hosts and Gaskell converted.

However, Wigan took control after the restart with Joe Burgess and Tommy Leuluai crossing for tries with Hankinson improving both while adding to penalty goals for a huge 32-12 advantage. The win looked to be wrapped up by the 68th minute as George Willams crossed and Hankinson kicked for 38-12. Hudds staged a fightback in the final ten minutes with Louis Senior and Jordan Turner going over with Gaskell converting just the former for a 38-22 final score.

Salford Red Devils continued their good form with a 26-16 win over Castleford Tigers at the AJ Bell Stadium. The hosts struck first through Niall Evalds with Krisnan Inu converting for a 6-0 lead which soon became 12-0 as he improved a Lee Mossop score. The Tigers replied with a Daniel Smith try which Peter Mata'utia converted for 12-6. Salford regained a two score lead with a Jackson Hastings try which Inu improved for 18-6 but the gap was to be one score again into the interval as Greg Minikin and Jordan Rankin went in, Mata'utia converted just the latter for 18-16.

The second half was a quieter one on the scoreboard with Derrell Olpherts crossing for a try on the hour which Inu converted for 24-16 with the final say going to Inu as he kicked a fifth success in the final minute to complete the 26-16 victory.

The televised action saw St Helens maintain a gap at the top with a 36-10 win over Leeds Rhinos at the Totally Wicked Stadium. A rapid start from the hosts saw Kevin Naiqama and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook crossing with Lachlan Coote converting twice for a 12-0 lead inside just five minutes. Leeds replied through Brad Dwyer with Liam Sutcliffe converting for 12-6 but a self-converted effort from Coote made it 18-6 three minutes later. The lead remained at two scores until just before the interval with Tommy Makinson acrobatically crossing with Coote converting from the wing for 24-6.

The second half was a more tighter affair with Luke Briscoe crossing out wide for the Rhinos to make it 24-10 but there was to be no comeback with St Helens wrapping up the win late on with a second score from McCarthy-Scarsbrook and James Bentley's try which saw Coote convert both for his sixth success at 36-10.

Friday's final game saw Warrington Wolves cruise to a 30-6 win over Wakefield Trinity at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. Trinity raced out of the blocks with the opening score coming inside a minute, Ryan Hampshire crossing for a try which Danny Brough converted for 6-0. Warrington levelled through Ben Currie with Declan Patton converting for 6 all before Josh Charnley and Mike Cooper went over with Patton converting the latter for 18-6 into the interval.

The Wolves spree resumed inside two minutes of the restart as Blake Austin crossed for a try which Patton improved for 24-6 but the second half proved to be far tighter from there with the only further score coming in the final minute, Jack Johnson scoring a try which saw Patton kick his fifth success of the evening to wrap up a 30-6 win.

The round ended on Saturday with Hull FC easing to a 50-10 win over Catalans Dragons. The Dragons struck first through Sam Tomkins who's self-converted try made it 6-0 inside eight minutes. FC responded with an Albert Kelly score which Marc Sneyd converted to level at 6 all before he added a penalty goal for 8-6. Joe Westerman crossed to extend the lead further with Sneyd kicking for 14-6. Catalans responded with a try from Lewis Tierney but they were dealt two further blows before the interval as Andre Savelio and Josh Griffin touched down, Sneyd improving both for a huge 26-10 advantage at the interval.

The second half saw Kieran Buchanan and Ratu Naulago extend the lead further with tries which Sneyd converted before a second score from Griffin and Jamie Shaul effort saw Sneyd reach nine successes in a 50-10 victory. 

2019 Super League Round 18 Review

Round 18 began on Thursday night with Hull FC coming from behind to ease to a 31-18 win over Castleford Tigers at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle. The Tigers opened the scoring with a Greg Minikin try for 4-0 before Ratu Naulago levelled for FC four minutes later. Peter Mata'utia kicked two
penalty goals for an 8-4 lead before Junior Moors crossed and Mata'utia converted for a 14-4 lead at the interval.

FC mounted a superb comeback with Naulago claiming his second try ahead of Albert Kelly going over, Sneyd converting twice before adding a penalty goal to make it 18-14. The hosts levelled with Greg Eden’s try on the hour but it proved to be a short lived equality as Kelly struck twice to complete his hat-trick with Sneyd converting twice for 30-18. The win was wrapped up for FC with four minutes remaining as Sneyd swept over a drop goal for 31–18.

In attendance at Emerald Headingley on Friday night as Wigan Warriors secured a 23–14 victory over Leeds Rhinos. The Rhinos opened the scoring with a Liam Sutcliffe penalty goal on 17 minutes for 2-0 before the Warriors hit back through Oliver Gildart with Chris Hankinson converting before adding two penalty goals minutes later for 10-2. Leeds cut the gap just before half-time as Adam Cuthbertson crossed and Sutcliffe converted for 10–8 but the final say of the half went to Wigan as Sam Powell swept over a drop goal for 11–8 into the interval.

The hosts regained the lead as Trent Merrin went over on 50 minutes with Sutcliffe kicking for 14-11. However, Wigan were soon back ahead as Oliver Partington dived over before a last minute drive from Tony Clubb saw both converted by Hankinson to seal a 23-14 victory.

St Helens maintained their lead at the top with a comfortable 38-2 victory over Huddersfield Giants. The Giants opened the scoring inside three minutes as Oliver Russell swept over a penalty goal for 2-0. Saints replied with a self converted effort from Lachlan Coote before Jonny Lomax and Tommy Makinson also crossed with Coote adding a single conversion for 16-2. Theo Fages crossed  before Makinson claimed his second try (Coote conv) as the lead stretched to 26-2 into the interval.

The two points were wrapped up before the hour as Makinson completed his hat-trick before a second score from Lomax saw Coote converting both to wrap up a 38-2 win.

Saturday’s televised action saw London Broncos claim a surprise 30-12 success away to Catalans Dragons. London opened the scoring on 12 minutes as Jordan Abdull crossed and Kieran Dixon converted for 6–0. The Dragons replied with a try from Fouad Yaha before Rhys Williams (Dixon conv) made it 12-4 but another Yaha effort cut the gap on the half hour mark to 12-8. Tries from Elliot Kear and Dixon either side of the hour, saw Dixon convert both for 24-8 before a second try from Williams ( Dixon conv) confirmed the win for the Broncos. Catalans had the final say though as Yaha crossed for his hat-trick score four minutes from the end for 30–12.

Hull Kingston Rovers gained revenge over Warrington Wolves for their Challenge Cup exit with a narrow 16-14 win at KCOM Craven Park. A Ryan Shaw penalty goal gave Rovers a 2-0 lead early on before Bryson Goodwin crossed for the Wolves with Declan Patton converting and later adding a penalty goal for an 8-2 lead. KR cut the gap to 8-4 at the interval with a last-gasp penalty goal from Shaw.

The hosts levelled with a Mose Masoe try on 54 minutes with Shaw kicking for a 10-8 lead that was rapidly cancelled out by Josh Charnley’s try (Patton conv) as Wire led 14-10. Rovers came achingly close to completing a comeback in the last meeting and this time they were successful as five minutes from the end, Adam Quinlan crossed with Shaw kicking to secure a 16-14 win.

The round ended on Sunday as Salford Red Devils claimed a 44–20 win over Wakefield Trinity. Salford struck early as Jake Bibby crossed for 4-0 but Wakefield replied with a Jacob Miller try which Danny Brough converted for 6-4. Salford regained the lead with Niall Evalds crossing ahead of Bibby’s second try, Krisnan Inu converted the former before improving an effort from Joey Lussick as the hosts led 20-6 into the interval.

Ben Jones-Bishop cut the gap four minutes after the restart with Brough converting for 20-12 but Salford replied through Robert Lui ( Inu conv) to make it 26-12. The sides exchanged scores either side of the hour, Miller claiming his second try ahead of Kris Welham crossing for the hosts with an Inu conversion moving the score to 32-16. Jones-Bishop claimed his second score of the afternoon before two scores from Evalds to seal his hat-trick late on saw Inu end on six successful conversions as Salford won 44-20.

2019 Super League Round 17 Review

The round began with a tense golden point victory for Castleford Tigers on Friday night as they edged a 27-26 win over Huddersfield Giants. The Tigers took the lead with a 13th minute penalty goal from Peter Mata'utia for a 2-0 lead that became 4-0 as he added another ten minutes later. Hudds hit back within two minutes to lead 6-4 with Lee Gaskell crossing and Oliver Russell converting. A second Gaskell/Russell combination saw Hudds extend the lead to 12-4 before Cas cut the gap to 12-10 into the interval as Greg Minikin went over with Mata'utia converting.

Mata'utia drew Cas level with a 55th minute penalty goal before Hudds regained the lead with a hat-trick try for Gaskell, Russell converting for 18-12. A rapid comeback by the Tigers saw Liam Watts cross with Mata'utia converting before adding a penalty goal to put the Tigers 20-18 ahead. Hudds levelled with a Russell penalty goal on 71 minutes before they looked to have sealed the win with Joe Wardle's 75th minute try which Russell improved for 26-20. Cas had other ideas as Grant Millington scored a last gasp try which Matat'utia converted to force Golden Point at 26 all. The Tigers sealed the win inside a minute of the extra period with Mata'utia sweeping over a drop goal for 27-26.

The televised action saw Leeds Rhinos claiming a 10-0 win over Wakefield Trinity at the Mobile Rocket Stadium. Leeds edged ahead with two penalty goals from Liam Sutcliffe in the 15th and 28th minutes to lead 4-0 at the interval in torrid conditions.

Tui Lolohea extended the lead with a 54th minute try before Sutcliffe rounded off the scoring with a penalty for 10-0 after 68 minutes.

Hull FC defied a late comeback from Salford Red Devils to secure a narrow 35-32 win at the KCOM Stadium. A rapid start from the hosts saw Albert Kelly, Jake Connor and Mark Minichello cross inside 15 minutes with Marc Sneyd converting the lot for 18-0. Pauli Pauli replied for Salford with Krisnan Inu converting for 18-6 before a second Kelly try saw Sneyd kicking for a 24-6 advantage, Jake Bibby (Inu conv) cut the lead which became 28-12 into the interval with a Jamie Shaul crossing on 35 minutes.

Robert Lui crossed for Salford within three minutes of the restart to cut the gap to 24-16 before FC looked to take control with a Sneyd drop goal on 63 minutes before he improved a Ratu Naulago try for 35-16 two minutes later. Salford mounted a huge comeback in the final ten minutes as Pauli (Inu conv) and Bibby claimed their second scores of the evening before a late Niall Evalds try saw Inu convert to set up a frantic finish as FC held on to win 35-32.

Saturday afternoon saw Warrington Wolves cut the gap at the top with a comfortable 34-4 win over Catalans Dragons. The Dragons struck the first points of the afternoon as Fouad Yaha crossed on the wing for 4-0 inside 17 minutes. The Wolves gained the lead with a Daryl Clark try on 31 minutes which Declan Patton converted for 6-4. Blake Austin's score (Patton conv) extended the lead to 12-4 into the interval.

Patton pushed the lead to 14-12 with a penalty goal inside four minutes of the restart before tries from Bryson Goodwin, Sitaleki Akauola and Josh Charnley saw Patton convert the lot before taking his total to seven successes with the boot late on to wrap up a 34-4 victory.

The round ended with two games which were settled by a single point starting with a huge shock as bottom side London Broncos stunned league leaders St Helens 23-22 in Golden Point extra time. Saints made the perfect start with James Roby and Luke Thompson crossing for tries which Danny Richardson converted for a 12-0 lead inside ten minutes. Ryan Morgan crossed against his parent club with Kieran Dixon converting for 12-6 and London levelled just before half-time as James Cunningham touched down with Dixon kicking for 12 all into the interval.

Mark Percival restored Saints' advantage as he crossed to make it 16-12 on 50 minutes but the lead was to last just five minutes as Morgan claimed his second try to level the game again at 16 all. The Broncos went in front for the first time on 67 minutes with Jay Pitts crossing, Dixon converted for a 22-16 lead that remained as the game entered the final minutes. St Helens saved their blushes in the final minute with Regan Grace touching down before Richardson swept the vital conversion in for 22 all which forced Golden Point. London claimed a famous 23-22 win within two minutes of the restart courtesy of a drop goal from Morgan Smith.

In attendance at KCOM Craven Park as Wigan Warriors left it late to seal a 19-18 win over Hull Kingston Rovers. The visitors struck first with George Williams racing in and Zak Hardaker converting for 6-0 after 12 minutes. KR levelled just seven minutes later with Jimmy Keinhorst touching down and Ryan Shaw kicking for 6 all. Wigan regained the lead just before half-time,Dan Sarginson dashing over ahead of a score for Joe Burgess for 14-6 into the interval.

The Robins cut the gap within three minutes of the restart through Will Dagger (Shaw conv) before going 18-14 ahead with Ryan Lannon's try which Shaw improved on 54 minutes. Wigan drew level with Liam Marshall's try on 65 minutes before sealing a 19-18 win in the final minute with an epic drop goal from Sam Powell.

2019 Womens Super League Round Five Review

Round five of the Women's Super League began with a comfortable 50-0 win for Leeds Rhinos Women as they humbled York City Knights Ladies. The Rhinos opened the scoring through Hanna Butcher with Courtney Hill converting for a 6-0 lead that became 10-0 when Charlotte Booth touched down. Two scores in five minutes opened up a 22-0 lead into the interval with Hill crossing for a self-converted try before improving a try from Chloe Kerrigan.

The second half saw the Rhinos open with a second self-conv for Courtney Hill before she improved a try from Suze Hill for a 34-0 advantage. Sophie Nuttall crossed to extend the lead to 38-0 ahead of a Fran Goldthorp score which Hill converted for 44-0. The half century was brought up seven minutes from the end as Butcher went over for her second try which Hill converted for her seventh success with the boot to complete the 50-0 rout.

St Helens Women also secured a huge win as they eased to a 66-0 win over Wakefield Trinity Ladies at the Mobile Rocket Stadium. The Saints struck inside nine minutes as Tara Jones crossed with Faye Gaskin converting for a 6-0 lead that became 10-0 on 20 minutes as Jodie Cunningham touched down. A trio of self-converted tries from Gaskin sandwiched a Naomi Williams score as Saints led 32-0 into the interval.

The visitors spree resumed with two scores within eight minutes of the restart with Claire Mullaney and Zoe Harris crossing with Gaskin converting both for a 44-0 lead. Trinity put a hold on the spree as they kept Saints out further until the 66th minute when Danielle Bush touched down with Gaskin kicking for 50-0. Further tries from Eboni Partington and Lizzie Gladman saw Gaskin convert the latter before she improved a late effort from Leah Burke to wrap up a 66-0 with a huge personal haul of 30 points including nine successes with the boot.

Wigan Warriors Women bounced back from recent defeats with a comfortable 42-4 win over Featherstone Rovers Ladies at Robin Park Arena. The Warriors opened up a 14-0 lead in the opening half hour as Megan Grace-Holding crossed for a brace either side of a superb try from Alison Burrows with Kate McMullan converting just the latter. Wigan went into the interval 18-0 to the good as Victoria Molyneux went over on 37 minutes.

The spree continued instantly after the restart as Rebecca Greenfield capped her return from injury with a try which McMullan improved for 24-0 before crossing for a try of her own ten minutes later as Wigan led 28-0. Fev ended the scoring streak on the hour with a clever play seeing Chloe Renyolds evading defenders to score but it was short lived joy with Burrows racing over for her second at 32-4. Wigan wrapped up the win with an effort from Amanda Sibbald before Greenfield claimed her second try in the final seconds, McMullan kicking her third success for a 42-4 victory.

The round ended on Thursday night as Castleford Tigers Women won 42--22 against Bradford Bulls Women at Odsal.

The Bulls struck first through Amy Hardcastle's try which Leah Jones converted for 6-0 on 22 minutes but Cas soon hit back with Rhiannon Marshall crossing for 6-4. Back to back scores for the Tigresses saw Katy Tordoff and Georgia Roche go over before a late try from Emma Slowe saw Tara Stanley convert twice to open up a 20-6 lead at the interval.

The visitors went further ahead with a Stanley try inside six minutes of the restart before suffering blow on 50 minutes with Marshall sent off after an altercation with Hardcastle. Cas defied the numerical disadvantage as Roche claimed her second try just minutes later, Stanley kicking for 30-6. Maisie Lumb crossed just before the hour for 34-6 before a Sarah Dunn try cut the gap to 34-10. A second Stanley score pushed the lead to 38-10 on 70 minutes before Ecem Acikgoz went over for the hosts, Jones converting to cut the gap to 38-16. Lumb claimed her second try before a last-gasp try from Danielle Bose left the final score a 42-22.

2019 Coral Challenge Cup Quarter Finals Review

A break in Super League action for the quarter final stage of the 2019 Coral Challenge Cup which began on Thursday night with holders Catalans Dragons suffering a 51-8 loss to Hull FC at the KCOM Stadium. FC raced into a 12-0 lead inside eight minutes as Jake Connor and Bureta Faraimo crossed with Marc Sneyd converting both. Catalans replied superbly with a Lewis Tierney brace to cut the gap to 12-8 on 20 minutes.

The narrow lead remained into the interval with Sneyd adding a penalty goal for 14-8 before FC ran riot, Sika Manu crossing ahead of a Ratu Naulago brace which sandwiched an Albert Kelly try and Sneyd drop goal with Sneyd converting the lot for a 39-8 lead. The gloss on a huge win came as Jamie Shaul and Danny Houghton both crossed with Sneyd ending the evening with nine successes from the kicking tee in the 51-8 rout.

Friday night saw last year's losing finalists Warrington Wolves survive a fightback to claim a 28-22 win over Hull Kingston Rovers at Craven Park. A tight first half saw the Wolves hold a 12-0 lead into the interval thanks to a 12th minute try from Jake Mamo which Declan Patton converted before improving an effort in the final second of the half from Blake Austin.

Tries from Tom Lineham and Ben Murdoch-Masila saw Patton add a conversion to make it 22-0 before the Robins staged a fightback with a full length try from Ben Crooks followed by a Josh Drinkwater brace which saw Ryan Shaw convert twice to cut the gap to 22-16. Wire looked to have sealed the win with a Ben Currie try on 73 minutes with Patton kicking for 28-16 but a frantic finish saw Craig Hall go over with Shaw converting for 28-22. KR came achingly close to forcing Golden Point in the final second but the Wolves held on to confirm a spot in the last four.

Saturday afternoon saw St Helens move closer to a first final spot in a decade as they claimed a 48-10 win over Wakefield Trinity at the Totally Wicked Stadium. A rapid start from the hosts saw Lachlan Coote cross and convert for 6-0 inside three minutes before a superb debut try for Jack Croft saw Danny Brough convert to draw Trin level at 6 all on seven minutes. Coote edged Saints ahead with a penalty goal before two tries in three minutes from Tommy Makinson and Morgan Knowles saw Coote convert once before adding another penalty goal minutes later for a 20-6 lead. Regan Grace dived over on 33 minutes to give Saints a 26-6 lead that they held onto into the interval.

Tyler Randell crossed ten minutes after the restart to cut the gap to 26-10 before scores from Zeb Taia, Mark Percival, Jonny Lomax and Kevin Naiqama saw Coote add three conversions to confirm a 48-10 victory.

The round ended in style on Sunday with an all-Championship battle at Odsal which saw Halifax reach the last four for the first time since 1988 as they edged a 20-16 win over Bradford Bulls.The Bulls opened the scoring through Rowan Milnes for a 4-0 lead inside eight minutes with the lead extending to 8-0 at the interval after a penalty goal from Jordan Lilley.

Fax hit back with a self-converted try from Steve Tyrer who instantly added a penalty goal for an eight point try at 8-6. Bradford regained the lead with Jake Webster's try which Lilley improved for 12-8 but Fax went back in front on 65 minutes as Scott Grix went over and Tyrer converted for 14-12. Another swing cam just four minutes later as Matty Wildie crossed to give the Bulls a narrow 16-14 lead. The final swing in the tie came on 76 minutes as James Woodburn-Hall raced over for Fax with Tyrer kicking a fourth conversion of the afternoon to secure a 20-16 win.