2021 Women's Challenge Cup

Last updated
2021 Women's Challenge Cup
Duration4 rounds
Number of teams10
Winners St Helens
Runners-up York City Knights

The 2021 Women's Challenge Cup (sponsored as the 2022 Betfred Women's Challenge Cup) was the 9th edition of the rugby league knockout tournament, and the first since the COVID-19 pandemic, with the last edition being played in 2019 as the 2020 edition was cancelled.

Contents

The Cup was won by St Helens who beat York City Knights 36–4 in the final at Leigh Sports Village on 5 June 2021. Due to COVID-19 restrictions in the United Kingdom, the Rugby Football League limited entry to the 2021 competition to the 10 clubs playing in the 2021 Women's Super League. A preliminary round saw the two new teams to the Super League, Warrington Wolves and Huddersfield Giants, play each other. York City Knights and Wakefield Trinity who finished 7th and 8th in the 2019 Women's Super League contested the other preliminary round tie. The two winning teams advanced to the quarter-finals where the other six teams joined the competition. The preliminary round and the quarter-finals were played at neutral grounds and behind closed doors due to COVID-19 restrictions. [1]

The final was played on 5 June as part of a triple-header with the semi-finals of the men's tournament. [2] For the first time the final was shown live on TV as it was shown on BBC Two. [3]

Preliminary round

2021 Women's Challenge Cup: preliminary round
HomeScoreAwayMatch information
Date and timeVenueReferee
Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves 38–12 Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield Giants 25 April 2021, 12:00Victoria Park, WarringtonA. Sweet
Wcatscolours.svg Wakefield Trinity 10–16 YorkRLFCcolours.png York City Knights 25 April 2021, 15:00
Source: [4]

Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter-finals was made on 28 April. All four ties were played on Sunday 9 May.

2021 Women's Challenge Cup: quarter-finals
HomeScoreAwayMatch information
Date and timeVenueReferee
Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves6–26 Castleford colours.svg Castleford Tigers 9 May 2021, 12:00Victoria Park, Warrington
YorkRLFCcolours.png York City Knights30–24 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors 9 May 2021, 12:00 Mobile Rocket Stadium
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 70–0 Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls 9 May 2021, 15:30
Saintscolours.svg St Helens 44–10 Fevcolours.svg Featherstone Rovers 9 May 2021, 15:30Victoria Park, Warrington
Source: [5]

Semi-finals

The draw for the semi-finals were made on 9 May. The ties were played on 22 May as a double header at York City Knights' LNER Community Stadium.

HomeScoreAwayMatch information
Date and timeVenueRefereeAttendance [lower-alpha 1]
YorkRLFCcolours.png York City Knights32–4 Castleford colours.svg Castleford Tigers22 May 2021, 12:30 LNER Community Stadium, YorkM. Rossleigh76
Saintscolours.svg St Helens20–12 Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos 22 May 2021, 15:00M. Mannifield76
Source: [6]

Final

The final of the women's challenge cup, was played at Leigh Sports Village, on 5 June 2021 as part of a triple header with the semi-finals of the men's tournament.

HomeScoreAwayMatch information
Date and timeVenueRefereeAttendance [lower-alpha 1]
YorkRLFCcolours.png York City Knights6–34 Saintscolours.svg St Helens5 June 2021, 11:15 Leigh Sports Village Marcus Griffiths4,000
Source: [7] [8]

Broadcast matches

RoundMatchDateBroadcast method
FinalYork City Knights v St Helens5 June 2023Broadcast live on BBC Two

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Limited attendance only due to COVID-19 regulations

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References

  1. Stephen, Hughes (10 March 2021). "Women's Super League to return in April". Serious About Rugby League. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  2. Darbyshire, Drew (7 May 2021). "Challenge Cup triple-header to take place in June". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  3. "BBC to show Women's Challenge Cup final". BBC Sport. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  4. "Warrington and York make Challenge Cup progress". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3, 274. 26 April 2021. p. 24.
  5. "Women's Challenge Cup Quarter Finals". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3, 276. 10 May 2021. p. 26.
  6. "Women's Challenge Cup Semi Finals". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3278. 24 May 2021. p. 26.
  7. "St Helens outclass York to take Women's Challenge Cup with Woosey double - Rugby league - The Guardian". The Guardian. 5 June 2021. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  8. "2021 Annual Report" (PDF). RFL. p. 16. Retrieved 4 April 2024.