Rugby league season
The 2018 RFL Women's Super League was the second season of the rugby league Women's Super League for female players in clubs affiliated to the Rugby Football League . The grand final was won by Wigan Warriors Women , who beat Leeds Rhinos Women 18–16 at the Grand Final at the Manchester Regional Arena . Wigan finished second to League Leaders Shield winners Leeds in the regular season.
The defending champions were Bradford Bulls Women ,[ 1] but they failed to make the play-offs in 2018.[ 2]
At the end of the regular season, the top four teams met in the play-off semi-finals. First placed Leeds beat fourth placed Castleford, while second placed Wigan beat St Helens who finished third. The winners met in the Grand Final at the Manchester Regional Arena on 13 October.
Locations of teams in Northern England
Two of the seven teams are newly formed for this season, one is renamed and the other four were in existence before 2018.
Fixtures and results [ edit ]
The fixtures are organised into 14 rounds, with each team only having 12 fixtures this means that every team will have a bye in two rounds of the competition.
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Referee
St Helens
40–0[ a]
York City Knights
15 April 2018, 2:00pm
Ruskin Drive Sports Ground
Bradford Bulls
16–32
Leeds Rhinos
15 April 2018, 2:00pm
Odsal Stadium
S. Ellis
Wigan Warriors
54–0
Featherstone Rovers
15 April 2018, 2:00pm
Robin Park Arena
Source:[ 8]
Bye : Castleford Tigers
^ Match abandoned after 62 minutes due to injury to York's Chloe James. There had already been a 50 minute delay due to injury to St Helens' Pippa Birchill.[ 6] [ 7] As over 60 minutes has been played the result stands.[ 6]
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Referee
Featherstone Rovers
6–36
Leeds Rhinos
9 May 2018, 7:30pm[ a]
L.D. Nutrition Stadium
Bradford Bulls
4–42
St Helens
22 April 2018, 2:00pm
Provident Stadium
York City Knights
0–62
Castleford Tigers
22 April 2018, 12:00
Nestle Rowntree Sports Park
Source:[ 9] [ 10]
Bye : Wigan Warriors
^ 5 April, match postponed - waterlogged pitch
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Referee
Castleford Tigers
40–16
Bradford Bulls
29 April 2018, 2:00pm
Willowbridge Lane
St Helens
40–14
Featherstone Rovers
29 April 2018, 2:00pm
Hattons Solicitors Crusaders Park
A Billington
Wigan Warriors
14–20
Leeds Rhinos
29 April 2018, 2:00pm
Robin Park Arena
Source:[ 11]
Bye : York City Knights
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Referee
Featherstone Rovers
32–38
Castleford Tigers
13 May 2018, 2:00pm
L.D. Nutrition Stadium
Bradford Bulls
72–10
York City Knights
13 May 2018, 2:00pm
Odsal Stadium
Wigan Warriors
16–6
St Helens
13 May 2018, 2:00pm
Robin Park Arena
R Stansfield
Source:[ 12]
Bye : Leeds Rhinos
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Referee
Castleford Tigers
14–14
Wigan Warriors
6 May 2018, 2:00pm
Willowbridge Lane
N Pascall
St Helens
20–14
Leeds Rhinos
20 May 2018, 2:00pm
Ruskin Drive Sports Ground
York City Knights
12–40
Featherstone Rovers
20 May 2018, 2:00pm
Bootham Crescent
Source:[ 13] [ 14]
Bye : Bradford Bulls
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Referee
Leeds Rhinos
40–12
Castleford Tigers
27 May 2018, 2:00pm
Headingley
Scott Fernandez
Featherstone Rovers
22–46
Bradford Bulls
26 May 2018, 12:30pm
Bloomfield Road
Nick Pascall
Wigan Warriors
50–0
York City Knights
10 June 2018, 2:00pm
Robin Park Arena
Aaron Moore
Source:[ 15] [ 16]
Bye : St Helens
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Referee
Castleford Tigers
14–14
St Helens
17 June 2018, 2:00pm
Mend-A-Hose Jungle
Bradford Bulls
10–34
Wigan Warriors
17 June 2018, 2:00pm
Odsal Stadium
Leeds Rhinos
80–0
York City Knights
17 June 2018, 2:00pm
Weetwood Sports Park
Source:[ 17]
Bye : Featherstone Rovers
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Referee
York City Knights
6–26
St Helens
24 June 2018, 2:00pm
Leeds Rhinos
30–10
Bradford Bulls
24 June 2018, 2:00pm
Weetwood Sports Park
Scott Fernandez
Featherstone Rovers
20–31
Wigan Warriors
24 June 2018, 2:00pm
L.D. Nutrition Stadium
Source:[ 18]
Bye : Castleford Tigers
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Referee
Leeds Rhinos
70–6
Featherstone Rovers
8 July 2018, 2:00pm
St Helens
42–12
Bradford Bulls
8 July 2018, 2:00pm
Ruskin Drive
Castleford Tigers
40–10
York City Knights
8 July 2018, 2:00pm
Source:[ 19]
Bye : Wigan Warriors
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Referee
Bradford Bulls
28–16
Castleford Tigers
12 August 2018, 2:00pm
Odsal Stadium
J. Powell
Featherstone Rovers
10–42
St Helens
12 August 2018, 2:00pm
Leeds Rhinos
22–23
Wigan Warriors
12 August 2018, 2:00pm
Source:[ 20]
Bye : York City Knights
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Referee
St Helens
10–14
Wigan Warriors
19 August 2018, 2:00pm
York City Knights
8–38
Bradford Bulls
19 August 2018, 2:00pm
Castleford Tigers
34–8
Featherstone Rovers
23 September 2018, 2:00pm
Castleford RUFC
Source:[ 21]
Bye : Leeds Rhinos
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Referee
Wigan Warriors
10–12
Castleford Tigers
9 September 2018, 2:00pm
Leeds Rhinos
12–6
St Helens
9 September 2018, 2:00pm
Featherstone Rovers
12–20
York City Knights
9 September 2018, 2:00pm
Source:[ 22]
Bye : Bradford Bulls
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Referee
Bradford Bulls
32–10
Featherstone Rovers
16 September 2018, 2:00pm
Odsal Stadium
Castleford Tigers
20–32
Leeds Rhinos
16 September 2018, 2:00pm
Castleford RUFC
S. Fernandez
York City Knights
6–38
Wigan Warriors
16 September 2018, 2:00pm
Source:[ 22]
Bye : St Helens
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Referee
St Helens
24–14
Castleford Tigers
28 September 2018, 2:00pm
Totally Wicked Stadium
S. Houghton
Wigan Warriors
26–8
Bradford Bulls
30 September 2018, 2:00pm
Robin Park Arena
York City Knights
8–50
Leeds Rhinos
30 September 2018, 2:00pm
Source:[ 2]
Bye : Featherstone Rovers
Regular season standings [ edit ]
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
PF
PA
PD
Pts
Qualification
1
Leeds Rhinos
12
10
0
2
438
139
+299
20
League Leaders Shield /Play off semi-finals
2
Wigan Warriors
12
9
1
2
324
128
+196
19
Play-off semi-finals
3
St Helens
12
8
1
3
316
130
+186
17
4
Castleford Tigers
12
6
2
4
318
228
+90
14
5
Bradford Bulls
12
5
0
7
292
312
−20
10
6
Featherstone Rovers
12
1
0
11
180
461
−281
2
7
York City Knights
12
1
0
11
78
548
−470
2
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Referee
Leeds Rhinos
24–10
Castleford Tigers
7 October 2018, 1:00pm
Weetwood Sports Village
R. Stansfield
Wigan Warriors
10–6
St Helens
7 October 2018, 2:00pm
Robin Park Arena
Source:[ 23]
13 October 2018 1:00pm BST
Leeds Rhinos
16 – 18
Wigan Warriors
Tries: Marshall, Beevers, S. HillGoals: C. Hill (2)
report
Tries: Thompson (3), WilsonGoals: Foley
Leeds Rhinos
Position
Wigan Warriors
Caitlin Beevers
FB
Rebecca Greenfield
Suze Hill
WG
Alison Burrows
Charlotte Booth
CE
Rachel Thompson
Sophie Robinson
CE
Georgia Wilson
Madison Laverick
WG
Michelle Davis
Hanna Butcher
SO
Gemma Walsh
Courtney Hill
SH
Sarah Harrison
Amy Johnson
PR
Hannah Goodburn
Rhiannion Marshall
HK
Claire Hall
Dannielle Anderson
PR
Chloe Hammond
Aimee Staveley
SR
Amanda Sibbald
Manina Spurr
SR
Vanessa Temple
Shannon Lacey
LF
Joanie Alpin
Frankie Townend
IN
Holly Speakman
Sophie Nuttall
IN
Charlotte Foley
Chloe Kerrigan
IN
Lucy Baggaley
Ellie Oldroyd
IN
Gemma Hennessey
The Grand Final was played at the Manchester Regional Arena on 13 October 2018. Neither team existed when the inaugural Grand Final was played in 2017. Leeds were seeking to complete the treble (League Leaders Shield, Challenge Cup and Grand Final winners) in their first season while Wigan were seeking their first ever trophy.
Leeds scored first, when Rhiannion Marshall scored a try from close range, Courtney Hill added the conversion. Wigan hit back a few minutes later when (Rachel Thompson scored their first try. The first half remained 6–4 to Leeds until shortly before half-time, when Thompson scored her, and Wigan's second try to make the half-time score 8–6 to Wigan.
In the second half Georgia Wilson extended Wigan's lead to 12–6 and Thompson completed her hat trick to put Wigan further ahead 16–6. Leeds struck back with a Caitlin Beevers solo effort, covering 80 metres from a 20-metre restart, Courtney Hill added the extra two points. With the score at 12–16, Leeds equalised as Suze Hill scored with only three minutes left to play. The conversion attempt was missed, and in stoppage time, Wigan were awarded a penalty which Charlotte Foley kicked to give Wigan victory by 18 points to 16.[ 24]
^ "Bradford Bulls beat Featherstone Rovers to win Women's Super League Grand Final" . BBC Sport . 7 October 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2018 .
^ a b "Women's Super League: Round 14". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,141. 1 October 2018. p. 34.
^ "Leeds Rhinos launch women's rugby league team" . Yorkshire Evening Post . 1 September 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2018 .
^ "Saints and Thatto Heath Crusaders sign unique partnership" . St Helens Reporter . 25 November 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2018 .
^ "Women's Super League: Wigan Warriors to set up women's rugby league team" . BBC Sport . 18 October 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2018 .
^ a b "York City Knights Ladies lose tough opener at St Helens - with serious injuries making it worse" . York Press . 16 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018 .
^ "Saints women make history" . St Helens R.F.C. 15 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018 .
^ "Women's Super League". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,117. 16 April 2018. p. 24.
^ "Women's Super League". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,118. 23 April 2018. p. 26.
^ "Women's Super League". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,121. 14 May 2018. p. 27.
^ "Women's Super League Round Three". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,119. 30 April 2018. p. 26.
^ "Women's Super League Round Four". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,121. 14 May 2018. p. 27.
^ "Women's Super League Round Five". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,120. 7 May 2018. p. 30.
^ "Women's Super League Round Five". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,122. 21 May 2018. p. 27.
^ "Women's Super League Round Six". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,122. 28 May 2018. p. 31.
^ "Women's Super League Round Six". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,125. 11 June 2018. p. 30.
^ "Scoreboard:Women's Super League". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,126. 18 June 2018. p. 35.
^ "Women's Super League Round 8". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,127. 25 June 2018. p. 28.
^ "Women's Super League round nine". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,129. 9 July 2018. p. 30.
^ "Women's Super League: Round 10". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,134. 13 August 2018. p. 38.
^ "Women's Super League". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,140. 24 September 2018. p. 30.
^ a b "Women's Super League: Round 13". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,139. 17 February 2018. p. 29.
^ "Women's Super League: semi-finals". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,142. 8 October 2018. p. 23.
^ "Last-gasp glory for Warriors". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,143. 15 October 2018. p. 24.
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