St Helens Women will play in the Challenge Cup final for the second year in a row following an 82-0 over Featherstone Rovers Ladies at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday evening!
🔴⚪️ TEAM NEWS! 🔴⚪️
This is our side to face
@FevRoversLadies in the Semi Finals of @TheChallengeCup this afternoon. Three changes for the Saints as Partington replaces Bush, whilst Whitfield & Woosey replace Mottershead & Rudge on the bench!#COYS pic.twitter.com/YpB5mpws0G— St.Helens Women (@saints1890women) April 24, 2022
Saints took an early fifth minute lead. Beth Stott threw a flat pass inside Featherstone territory which allowed Paige Travis to break through a tackle to score. Zoe Harris missed the conversion, 4-0 Saints led. Our second try came five minutes later, Saints went for an early kick on the fourth tackle and got a fortunate bounce, then on the last they keep the ball alive as Chantelle Crowl managed to offload to Carrie Roberts and she scored in the right corner. Harris nailed the touchline conversion, 10-0.
🔴 @saints1890women go from one touchline to the other to get their second of the match!
🏆 @Betfred Women's #ChallengeCup
📺 @BBCSport: https://t.co/hgaeSux7c7 pic.twitter.com/84ba4a7RNV— Betfred Challenge Cup (@TheChallengeCup) April 24, 2022
Roberts had her second try of the game five minutes later. First, Isabelle Rudge made a strong carry through the heart of the Featherstone defence, that was backed up by another good carry from Tara Jones, Saints then worked the ball out right and that allowed Rebecca Rotheram to find Roberts for her second of the afternoon. Harris missed the kick, 14-0. Saints’ fifth came just before the midway point of the first half. Stott found Jodie Cunningham and she found Amy Hardcastle and she broke a tackle before rounding the fullback to score. Harris converted the try, 20-0.
👏 Amy @hardcastle03 doing what she does best! @saints1890women are 20-0 ahead.
🏆 @Betfred Women's #ChallengeCup
📺 @BBCSport: https://t.co/hgaeSux7c7 pic.twitter.com/y2nsF6jSE9— Betfred Challenge Cup (@TheChallengeCup) April 24, 2022
It took until the 29th minute for Saints’ fifth try. The Red Vee created an overlap down the right-hand side which allowed Rotheram to score in the corner. Harris missed the conversion, 24-0. Rotheram was involved again for our sixth try as she broke down the right wing before finding Leah Burke on her outside to score in the corner. Harris missed the kick, 28-0.
Then came arguably the try of the game. Travis made a break down the middle of the Featherstone defence and raced half the length of the pitch to score her second try of the game. Harris converted, 34-0.
🗣️ "She's the best player in the competition for me!" – @kylejamor87.
🔥 It's another try for @saints1890women's @paigetr38477665!
🏆 @Betfred Women's #ChallengeCup
📺 @BBCSport: https://t.co/hgaeSux7c7 pic.twitter.com/a9lABU7aXO— Betfred Challenge Cup (@TheChallengeCup) April 24, 2022
Saints then grabbed their final try of the first 40 in the final minute of the first half. Once again we had an overlap down the right which allowed Roberts to stroll in for her hat-trick. Harris converted to give us a 40-0 lead at the break.
HT' 🔴⚪️ Saints Women 40-0 Featherstone Rovers Ladies 🔵⚪️
Saints run in eight first half tries to take control at the break! Tries from Travis (2), Roberts (3), Hardcastle, Rotheram & Burke! pic.twitter.com/DToyHNHeZ5
— St.Helens Women (@saints1890women) April 24, 2022
Saints did not waste anytime continuing their scoring in the second half. Featherstone made an error in their own 20 and Saints threw the ball out left, with Hardcastle finding Eboni Partington to score in the corner. Harris missed the kick, 44-0. Roberts then grabbed her fourth try of the evening in the 50th minute as she broke through a tackler to score. Harris missed the conversion, 48-0.
Vicky Whitfield then added her name to the long list of try scorers, after returning from the interchange bench, Whitfield made a massive run with her first carry, seconds later she had her second carry of the half and crashed over from close range. Harris’ conversion hit the post, 52-0. Rotheram then grabbed her second try of the afternoon as she slid over down the left side. Stott took over kicking duties but missed, 56-0.
Hardcastle then grabbed her second try of the evening as she ran half the length of the pitch following a Saints scrum on the halfway line. Stott converted, 62-0.
🔥 A slick set play from the scrum and @hardcastle03 has her 13th try of the season for @saints1890women!
🏆 @Betfred Women's #ChallengeCup
📺 @BBCSport: https://t.co/hgaeSux7c7 pic.twitter.com/Z4TBkfwnwG— Betfred Challenge Cup (@TheChallengeCup) April 24, 2022
Jones then also added her name to the list of scorers as she went over from close range. Stott’s conversion hit the post, 66-0. Hardcastle then added her third try as we entered the final stages as she once again rounded the Featherstone fullback to score. Stott converted, 72-0.
There was still time for two final Saints tries. First, Saints work the ball left and Hardcastle found Rachael Woosey to score in the corner. Stott converted, 78-0.
🔴 @saints1890women go through the hands for another try as they pass the 70-point mark.
🏆 Betfred Women's #ChallengeCup
📺 BBC Sport: https://t.co/hgaeSux7c7 pic.twitter.com/KFYZwicVWn— Betfred Challenge Cup (@TheChallengeCup) April 24, 2022
Woosey then had a second try in the final minute, Stott finding her to stroll in for her second, and Saints’ final try of the afternoon. Stott was unable to convert but it did not matter, as Saints reached consecutive Challenge Cup finals where they will face Leeds Rhinos at Elland Road on Saturday 7th May.
The game will be played prior to Saints men’s semi-final clash with Wigan Warriors. Tickets for the triple header can be bought here.
FT' 🔴⚪️ Saints Women 82-0 Featherstone Rovers Ladies 🔵⚪️
Saints reach their second consecutive @TheChallengeCup final with a comfortable win over Featherstone in Warrington. We will face @leedsrhinos in the final two weeks on Saturday! pic.twitter.com/mXWP2gxtrb
— St.Helens Women (@saints1890women) April 24, 2022
Match Summary
Saints Women Team: Rebecca Rotheram, Leah Burke, Carrie Roberts, Amy Hardcastle, Eboni Partington, Zoe Harris, Beth Stott, Isabelle Rudge, Tara Jones, Chantelle Crowl, Naomi Williams, Paige Travis, Jodie Cunningham.
Interchanges: Alice Sandham, Victoria Whitfield, Pip Birchall, Rachael Woosey.
Tries: Paige Travis (5, 36), Carrie Roberts (10, 15, 39, 50), Amy Hardcastle (19, 65, 73), Rebecca Rotheram (29,58), Leah Burke (33), Eboni Partington (42), Victoria Whitfield (53), Tara Jones (70), Rachael Woosey (76, 79)
Conversions: Zoe Harris (4 from 11). Beth Stott (3 from 6)
Featherstone Rovers Ladies Team: Fran Copley, Lucy Attree, Hannah Watt, Chloe Billington, Elland Lamb, Jessica Matthews, Olivia Grace, Kirsty Higo, Charley Blackburn, Zoe Teece, Amie Backhouse, Tilly Churm, Katherine Hepworth.
Interchanges: Danielle Waters, Gabrielle Harrison, Hailey Swann, Maddison Hirst.
Tries:
Conversions:
HT: 40-0
FT: 82-0
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