CASTLEFORD TIGERS VS LEEDS RHINOS KO: 3.00PM BRADFORD BULLS V STANNINGLEY KO: 1.00PM SATURDAY, AUGUST 4 HALLIWELL JONES STADIUM, WARRINGTON FREE MEMBERSHIP SIGN UP NOW! • Win up to £20k with FanScore • Comprehensive Match Centre • Exclusive news • Offers and competitions • FREE Ladbrokes Challenge Cup Final Ticket for junior players • Vote for your Betfred Man of the Match and Player of the Month RUGBY-LEAGUE.COM/MEMBERSHIP WELCOME RUGBY LEAGUE – ALWAYS FOR EVERYONE On behalf of the Rugby Football League, I am delighted to wish everyone involved in this historic Women’s Challenge Cup Finals double-header the very best of luck. I am a long-term passionate supporter of Women’s Rugby League and have enjoyed watching some outstanding games this season. As a sport we should all be proud of the unstoppable rise of Women’s Rugby League. There is more to do to grow girls’ and women’s Rugby League, and together we will – but what a fantastic journey. Great work goes on across the sport from players, coaches, volunteers, parents, friends, families, clubs, Rugby League Foundations and at the National Governing Body to support and promote Women’s Rugby League. Thank you to everyone. Like the players, you are making history. Good luck to all the players. Enjoy every minute. RALPH RIMMER Chief Executive Officer The Rugby Football League Welcome to the Halliwell Jones Stadium, home of Betfred Super League side Warrington Wolves, for today’s Women’s Challenge Cup Final. Last year’s final drew a four-figure crowd at Heworth ARLFC as Bradford Bulls ran out 50-16 winners over Featherstone Rovers. Castleford Tigers impressively overcame the Bulls at Odsal in the Round of 16, coming from behind at half time to topple the holders, while Featherstone’s journey this year was ended by Wigan Warriors in the quarter finals. Leeds accounted for Wigan in a titanic semi-final in July after comfortable wins over The Army and Wakefield Trinity in the earlier rounds. The Tigers arguably faced a tougher run to today’s showpiece event, edging out St Helens in the quarter finals, ahead of a 46-12 semi-final win over fellow Super League outfit, York City Knights. Today’s match-up also means there will be a new name on the trophy this year as two recently-formed clubs go head-to-head. The Tigers made their debute last year and featured in the first-ever Women’s Super League season. Though they finished bottom of the four-team league in 2017, their fortunes have improved this year, with a play-off berth looking likely - alongside their first-ever major final appearance today. Meanwhile Leeds’ competitive debut only came in April this year and they have enjoyed a stunning inaugural campaign under the stewardship of Adam Cuthbertson - losing just once in the league so far this year as they sit three points clear at the top of the table and are all set for their first final this afternoon. Both sides feature a host of current England stars and potential stars of the future as we showcase Women’s Rugby League at the Halliwell Jones Stadium for the first time. There are, of course, two finals taking place today, as Bradford Bulls clash with Stanningley in the Women’s Challenge Shield Final. Super League’s Bulls will be favourites for the tie, but Stanningley have been performing well in the Championship this year and will be keen to make their mark here in Warrington. Good luck to all the players, coaches and match officials involved in the action today - it’s sure to be an enthralling afternoon of Rugby League! MARC LOVERING Development Director, The Rugby Football League CHARLOTTE BOOTH CAITLIN BEEVERS SOPHIE ROBINSON SOPHIE NUTTALL SUZE HILL HANNA BUTCHER COURTNEY HILL AMY JOHNSON LOIS FORSELL DANIELLE ANDERSON AIMEE STAVELEY MANINA SPURR RHIANNON MARSHALL SHANNON LACEY FRANKIE TOWNEND We are very delighted and excited LARISSA DEAVES for the girls going into that “ weekend. They have put a lot ELLIE OLDROYD of hard work, sacrifice and effort MADISON LAVERICK so far into this season, so to find CHLOE KERRIGAN ourselves in a final this early in our MEGAN PRICE time together is brilliant and they BETH LOCKWOOD deserve every bit of it.” DANIKA PRIIM TASHA GAINES Leeds Rhinos Women are a newly established team Women’s Super League. He brings his playing with 2018 marking their competitive debut, having experience, having won 2 Grand Finals and a launched the team back in late-2017. Since the start Challenge Cup with the Leeds Rhinos men’s team, of the Women’s Super League season, the team as well as prior coaching experience within the have won 7 of their 8 games played so far, currently Leeds Rhinos Foundation. Adam could win two placing them at the top of the table. Challenge Cups this season – one with the women’s through today’s final and the other with the men’s The side, which underwent lengthy trials to select team, whom play their semi-final tomorrow. squad members, includes England Women’s players Danika Priim, Charlotte Booth, Lois Forsell, as well Speaking on the team making it to the Challenge as National Training Squad members Danielle Cup Final, Adam stated “It’s very exciting. Obviously, Anderson and Rhiannon Marshall. it’s our first season as a team so to get a tough draw through the Challenge Cup fixtures and make The team’s Head Coach and Leeds Rhinos prop, it through to our very first Challenge Cup Final is Adam Cuthbertson, joined the team in pre-season, brilliant. prior to them joining the inaugural season of the ROUND OF 16 Sunday, June 3 Leeds Rhinos 58-0 Wakefield Trinity Leeds Rhinos’ run to the Challenge Cup Final began with an impressive demolition of Championship high-fliers, Wakefield Trinity. Trin’ have won all seven of their league matches this year, but they had no match for the Rhinos in early June. Courtney Hill led the way with nine goals and two tries, while Suze Hill bagged a brace. Charlotte Booth, Lois Forsell, Sophie Robinson, Caitlin Beevers, Rhiannon Marshall and Shannon Lacey all notched four-pointers for the hosts to set up a home quarter final tie with The Army. QUARTER FINAL Sunday, July 1 Leeds Rhinos 46-10 The Army Teenager Caitlin Beevers scored a hat-trick of tries as Adam Cuthbertson’s side breezed into the Women’s Challenge Cup semi-finals with a fine win over the Army in July. The game was in the balance at half time as Leeds led 18-10 at the interval. But Beevers ran in her treble inside 14 second- half minutes to help seal the tie. Danielle Anderson scored an early brace for the hosts, but tries from Toni Tomkins and Matilda Butler, as well an Amy Robinson goal, gave The Army some hope. However, scores from Sophie Robinson, Frankie Townend and Sophie Nutall, aongside seven Courtney Hill goals, saw the Rhinos over the line. SEMI FINAL Sunday, July 15 Wigan Warriors 8-26 Leeds Rhinos The Rhinos passed their toughest test yet with flying colours to secure their Cup final spot away from home. Despite Becky Greenfield’s double for Wigan, a steely defensive effort from the Rhinos saw off Wigan at Robin Park. The Rhinos were 16-4 up at the break; Caitlin Beevers scored twice, alongside tries for Danielle Anderson and Charlotte Booth.] Three goals from Hanna Butcher made sure of the win. TARA STANLEY COURTNEY POINTON MAISIE BURTON GEORGIA ROCHE KELSEY GENTLES OLIVIA GRACE LUCY EASTWOOD EMMA LUMLEY SINEAD PEACH KATY TORDOFF TAMZIN RENOUF LACEY OWEN KATIE HEPWORTH BETH WEIR I am thrilled that we have got to the Challenge Cup Final. We had JASMINE ROWLEY “ quite a tough draw, having to beat SHANELLE MANNION holders Bradford, come through a GEORGIE HETHERINGTON close game against Saint Helens JASMINE CUDJOE and then beat York City Knights. KIRSTY HIGO So, I feel we are worthy finalists. MARIE COLLEY Castleford Tigers Ladies are a recently formed team, them being 18 or younger. As you can imagine they with the side only being established in 2016, making are extremely excited to be going to a final. We said their competitive debuts last season (2017). This at the beginning of the year our aim as a team was season sees them currently sitting in fourth place to get to at least one final, so we are happy to have within the Women’s Super League, as well as making done that already. it through to the Challenge Cup Final. The final will be a huge challenge and we are Head Coach, Lindsay Anfield, who has previously comfortable being underdogs, I aim to ensure played for England Women and coached England everyone involved enjoys the experience. Leeds Students Women’s team, has been part of the thumped us at their place, so we will need to up our coaching set up since the inception of Castleford’s game to compete with them, but I know we haven’t ladies team. fired on all cylinders so far this season, so we are looking forward to it. Leeds are a solid side and have On reaching the Final, Lindsay stated “I am thrilled been all year, again they are a new team, but they that we have got to the Challenge Cup Final. We had have some real experience in their side, so we will quite a tough draw, having to beat holders Bradford, need to turn up with all guns blazing and put in a come through a close game against Saint Helens massive performance.