St.Helens Women beat York Valkyrie 10-6 in the Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Semi Final to book their spot in the Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, 7th June!
Joint Head Coaches Derek Hardman & Craig Richards welcomed back captain Jodie Cunningham and Darcy Stott into their Saints squad for the knockout game, with the rest of their team the same as the one that beat London in the Quarter Finals.
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First Half
York kicked off the match from the kicking tee, with a couple of early calm sets to get things going. Channy Crowl managed to get an offload away in a tackle, but copped a tough shot to her ribs which left her badly winded early in the match, but after some treatment she held her hand up to carry on. York then with some good territory knocked on, for an early defensive win.
The first chance of the game went the way of York, Tamzin Renouf broke the line and cut through the middle, but Phoebe Hook sprinted back to make a try saving tackle. Amy Hardcastle followed it up with a bone-rattling hit on Sinead Peach too. That gave Saints a wake-up call, charging upfield with Shona Hoyle busting through, two plays later Amy Hardcastle shook off one defender but knocked on over the try-line.
The Red V would then keep threatening, York hanging on by their own line as Rudge and Crowl drove close, and a Casey short kick forced a repeat set, however a judged forward pass from Harris to Hoyle eased the pressure with 11 minutes played.
Saints had wrestled some control and territory of the fixture, with York not getting yet into our half until Hardcastle was judged to have knocked on with three Valkyrie players on her, slowly not getting out of a tackle, and that shifted some momentum. Salhi needed to field a high bomb and was tackled into the in-goal, however, we firmed up in the middle and forced a York knock-on as Georgia Sutherland came on.
Just after the twenty-minute mark, the match continued to be played in the middle channel and good kick pressure by Cunningham forced Williamson to kick out on the full. Vicky Whitfield then came on, looking to bring impact, and Katie Mottershead at hooker sought to speed up the ruck.
Sutherland off an inside ball caught York out and as she took some metres got taken high, 25 metres out and in the middle of the field. Cunningham stuck two fingers in the air, and Gaskin kicked the opening points, 2-0 – 26 minutes gone.
Both sides then got into a real bruising battle, with a couple of errors traded by each. York had the S-Women on the backfoot but our team forced a knock-on to relieve some pressure, and the visitors then gave away a penalty for laying down too long in the tackle.
Whitfield charged up into a collision, creating a dent in the black and yellow shirts. Hardcastle drove close too, but Mottershead trying to pass the ball as speed gave away a forward pass with Sutherland wanting to crash over from close range.
York tried breaking up the middle, big carries by Savannah Andrade and Zoe Hornby, before on the last Emily Rudge read the passes perfectly to put a brilliant shot on Ellie Williamson. The York half would then moments later took Amy Hardcastle very high, questions were asked in the crowd over a sin bin but nothing given.
Faye Gaskin’s effort for the posts was not strong enough, just short of crossing the posts and the half came to a close following a tackle, 2-0.
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Second Half
The Saints gifted the Valkyrie the first chance to post points in the second half, an offside call against us allowed York a chance to go for the two 18m out and just to the right of the sticks but Rhiannon Marshall’s effort came off the left post, with Hook catching the ball but copping a bad hit for it and needing to be assessed. The break didn’t help, with York next to our line we knocked on the ball – granting the opposition another go from close range. However, Hook then led the tackle to take Emma Kershaw into touch.
Some needle began creeping into the game, Woman of Steel Georgia Dagger did not like a high tackle from Rudge, but McGifford caught the penalty kick in the field of play. Cunningham on a strong carry was then taken high. It was getting really fiery.
St.Helens off that York high tackle had the Valks on the backfoot and moving towards their own line. A short pass to Shona Hoyle saw her crash over, with several opposition players on her she got it down for the first try of the day! After a video ref check, the four-pointer was given. Faye Gaskin then from near the sidelines added the kick to make it 8-0, with 49 minutes played.
Not wanting to let up in the intensity, Hook chased a kick very well as it lingered in the York in-goal area, taking an opposition player into touch for a goal-line drop-out. Crowl, Hoyle and Cunningham kept on banging at the front door, trying to get a second score but were inches shy or held up.
The Valks’ next attack proved to be a tricky one, with Marshall putting up a spiral bomb which we knocked on 20m off our own line. The back-rower would then power over from dummy half next to the line with Saints conceding our first points of the Challenge Cup competition in 2025. Williamson from bang in front kicked the extras, 8-6 with 22 minutes to go.
Caitlin Casey and Darcy Stott made their way back on the field, with York finding some wind in their sails following their points. A couple of our own errors would not help though, putting a little more pressure on.
Marshall’s kicking again caused issues, with her unorthodox style catching Hook out again and gifting York an attack set 10m off our line. Outstanding try-line defence from our Red V Women kept them at bay though this time, but at a cost with Gaskin needing to come off due to a head injury assessment. Mottershead came on in her stead.
Under the high hot sun, the pitch was absolutely roasting and a little fatigue was becoming a factor. A few stoppages for some cramps and then Marshall on the halfway line went for a ball that was bouncing and knocked on. Using that we then turned the pressure onto the York line, Cunningham on the last tried a show then go, but knocking on herself inches off the line.
It was always going to be a tight, tense finish, just two points separating the sides. Harris tried to control the final stages with Harris now off the field, smart kicks followed by Hook in tackle.
With just over minutes left, York began throwing it about, causing chaos but Hardcastle made a saving tackle to stop a threat. She would need to come off the field though, with Luci McColm coming on.
The skipper took in a typically robust carry into the heart of the York defensive line, getting another high shot for it. Harris chose to go for the two, knocking it over into an usually hostile West Stand full of Leigh fans, 10-6 with four and half left on the clock.
York from the restart kicked out on the full, and not 10m for a double whammy. Saints needed to see this one out. Smart, simple rugby into the York territory, finished off by Casey drilling a kick into touch by the 10m line.
Desperate, York caught fighting to keep the ball alive off a kick that we did not deal with, but a pass too much by them saw a knock-on. They would use their Captain’s Challenge, contesting that the ball should be theirs, but it was unsuccessful with seconds to go.
As the hooter went, Katie Mottershead took it into the sidelines, and the explosion of joy was etched across every single Saint on the field as victory was confirmed!
The Saints, for a third straight season, booked their place at Wembley and will continue their defence of the Women’s Challenge Cup with even more history up for grabs, with the fight for five straight Cup trophies still going.
It will be the first-ever Saints/Wigan derby at the new Wembley Stadium, so will be a match not to be missed!
The Saints’ tickets for Finals Day at Wembley Stadium are on sale now!
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Match Summary
Saints Team: Beri Salihi, Phoebe Hook, Erin Stott, Amy Hardcastle, Dani McGifford, Zoe Harris, Faye Gaskin, Darcy Stott, Caitlin Casey, Chany Crowl, Shona Hoyle, Emily Rudge, Jodie Cunningham
Interchanges: Vicky Whitfield, Katie Mottershead, Georgia Sutherland, Luci McColm
18th player: Alyx Bridge
Tries: Hoyle (47)
Conversions: Gaskin 1/1
Penalties: Gaskin 1/2, Harris 1/1
Valkyrie Team: Georgie Dagger, Eboni Partington, Tamzin Renouf, Jazz Rampton, Emma Kershaw, Sade Rihari, Ellie Williamson, Isabelle Brennan, Sinead Peach, Lisa Parker, Savannah Andrade, Liv Wood, Jas Bell
Interchanges: Rhiannion Marshall, Isabel Bibby, Alexandra Stimpson, Zoe Hornby
18th player: Jessica Sharp
Tries: Marshall (56)
Conversions: Williamson
Penalties: Marshall 0/1
