2024 Women's Challenge Cup final
| 2024 Women's Challenge Cup Final | |||||||||||||
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| Date | 8 June 2024 | ||||||||||||
| Stadium | Wembley Stadium | ||||||||||||
| Location | London, United Kingdom | ||||||||||||
| Player of the Match | Zoe Harris (St Helens) | ||||||||||||
| Abide with Me | Maxwell Thorpe | ||||||||||||
| God Save the King | Katherine Jenkins | ||||||||||||
| Referee | Aaron Moore | ||||||||||||
| Broadcast partners | |||||||||||||
| Broadcasters | |||||||||||||
The 2024 Women's Challenge Cup Final was the 12th final of the Rugby Football League's Women's Challenge Cup knock-out competition. The 2024 was the second final at Wembley Stadium, and held on 8 June 2024.[1]
The final was contested by Leeds Rhinos and St Helens.
Background[edit]
The 2024 Women's Challenge Cup final was the third consecutive meeting between St Helens and Leeds Rhinos in the competition final.
St Helens were three times defending champions of the Challenge Cup having won in 2021, 2022, and 2023. They also won the tournament four times in a row between 2013 and 2016. Upon gaining their place in the final St Helens were third in Super League.
Leeds Rhinos entered the final aiming to avenge back to back defeats to St Helens in 2022 and 2023. They last won the competition in 2019 retaining it after their 2018 victory. Upon qualification Leeds were in second place in Super League, behind Wigan Warriors the team they eliminated in the semi-finals, but above St Helens.
Route to the final[edit]
Leeds Rhinos[edit]
| Round | Opposition | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group Stage |  Leigh Leopards
|
Twist Lane | 52–4 |
 Hull KR
|
Craven Park | 90–0 | |
 Huddersfield Giants
|
West Park RUFC | 54–10 | |
| Quarter-final |  Warrington Wolves
|
Headingley | 70–10[2] |
| Semi-final |  Wigan Warriors
|
Totally Wicked Stadium | 34–20[3] |
St Helens[edit]
| Round | Opposition | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group Stage |  London Broncos
|
Totally Wicked Stadium | 64–0 |
 Bradford Bulls
|
Odsal Stadium | F–W/O | |
| Warrington Wolves
|
Dallam Playing Fields | 58–6 | |
| Quarter-final | Huddersfield Giants
|
Crusaders Park | 74–0[4] |
| Semi-final |  York Valkyrie
|
Eco-Power Stadium | 32–2[5] |
Source:[6]
Pre-match[edit]
British singer Maxwell Thorpe sang the national anthem and Abide with Me ahead of the match. Thorpe was supported by British DJ Alex Simmons in providing the pre match entertainment.[7] Following the death of Rob Burrow on 2 June, the RFL announced that Rob's death be commemorated with a minute's silence before kick-off and with a minute's applause during the seventh minute of the game.[8]
Before the game, the Year 7 School's Final was played. Wigan's St Peter's Catholic High School won against Cardiff's Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf.[9]
Match details[edit]
Saturday, 8 June 2024
11:45am BST |
 Leeds Rhinos
|
0–22 |  St Helens
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Gaskin, Hook, McColm, Crowl Goals: Gaskin (3/4) |
Wembley Stadium, London
Referee: Aaron Moore Touch judges: Neil Horton, Beth Neilson Player of the Match: Zoe Harris (St Helens) |
| Leeds Rhinos | Position | St Helens | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Number | Number | Name | |
| Ruby Enright | 1 | Fullback | 1 | Beri Salihi |
| Liv Whitehead | 18 | Wing | 20 | Phoebe Hook |
| Caitlin Beevers | 3 | Centre | 4 | Erin Stott |
| Amy Hardcastle | 4 | Centre | 3 | Luci McColm |
| Evie Cousins | 21 | Wing | 5 | Leah Burke |
| Hanna Butcher | 6 | Stand off | 6 | Zoe Harris |
| Caitlin Casey | 7 | Scrum half | 7 | Faye Gaskin |
| Grace Field | 19 | Prop forward | 8 | Vicky Whitfield |
| Keara Bennett | 9 | Hooker | 9 | Tara Jones |
| Izzy Northrop | 10 | Prop forward | 10 | Chantelle Crowl |
| Shona Hoyle | 11 | Second row | 11 | Paige Travis |
| Lucy Murray | 17 | Second row | 12 | Emily Rudge |
| Bella Sykes | 12 | Loose forward | 13 | Jodie Cunningham |
| Sophie Robinson | 2 | Interchange | 14 | Naomi Williams |
| Zoe Hornby | 8 | Interchange | 16 | Darcy Stott |
| Bethan Dainton | 13 | Interchange | 19 | Katie Mottershead |
| Ella Donnelly | 25 | Interchange | 24 | Georgia Sutherland |
| Jenna Greening | 22 | Concussion substitute | 17 | Philippa Birchall |
| Lois Forsell | Coach | Matty Smith | ||
The match officials were named on 4 June, with Aaron Moore as the referee, alongside Neil Horton, and Beth Neilson, the touch judges. Neilson became the first woman to be part of a senior final officiating team.[10][a]
Post-match[edit]
Following the game, the men's final was played along with the 2024 1895 Cup final. The men's game saw an 18–8 victory to Wigan Warriors against Warrington Wolves.[12][13][14] The 1895 Cup final saw Wakefield Trinity beat Sheffield Eagles 50–6.[15]
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^ Caitlin Beevers refereed the Year 7 Schools Final in 2018.[11]
References[edit]
- ^ "RFL to move Wembley Challenge Cup final date again". BBC Sport. 12 August 2023.
- ^ "Leeds Rhinos Women 70 Warrington Wolves Women 10". Sky Sports.
- ^ "Leeds beat Wigan to book third straight final v Saints". BBC Sport. 19 May 2024.
- ^ "St Helens Women 74 Huddersfield Giants Women 0". Sky Sports.
- ^ "St Helens beat York to reach Challenge Cup final". BBC Sport. 18 May 2024.
- ^ "Wembley cup final gives women's game incentive". BBC Sport. 17 May 2024.
- ^ "Katherine Jenkins OBE to perform at Wembley Stadium on Rugby League's Finals Day". RFL. 13 May 2024.
- ^ Bower, Aaron (5 June 2024). "Challenge Cup final kick-off time moved to honour Rob Burrow at Wembley". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/orrells-st-peters-victorious-at-wembley-to-lift-the-steven-mullaney-memorial-trophy-4658388
- ^ Smith, Peter (4 June 2024). "Leeds referee appointed as 1895 and Challenge Cup final match officials confirmed". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "Champions Schools: Year Seven Boys Final". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3, 136. 27 August 2018. p. 21.
- ^ https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2024/06/08/warriors-win-challenge-cup-at-wembley/
- ^ https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/articles/c2jj1x7m71zo.amp
- ^ https://amp.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jun/08/warrington-wigan-challenge-cup-final-rugby-league-report
- ^ https://www.rugby-league.com/match-centre/match-report/2280778