The 2021 Women's Challenge Cup (sponsored as the 2022 Betfred Women's Challenge Cup) was the 9th edition of the rugby league knockout tournament, and the first since the COVID-19 pandemic, with the last edition being played in 2019 as the 2020 edition was cancelled.
| Duration | 4 rounds |
|---|---|
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Winners | St Helens |
| Runners-up | York City Knights |
The Cup was won by St Helens who beat York City Knights 36–4 in the final at Leigh Sports Village on 5 June 2021. Due to COVID-19 restrictions in the United Kingdom, the Rugby Football League limited entry to the 2021 competition to the 10 clubs playing in the 2021 Women's Super League. A preliminary round saw the two new teams to the Super League, Warrington Wolves and Huddersfield Giants, play each other. York City Knights and Wakefield Trinity who finished 7th and 8th in the 2019 Women's Super League contested the other preliminary round tie. The two winning teams advanced to the quarter-finals where the other six teams joined the competition. The preliminary round and the quarter-finals were played at neutral grounds and behind closed doors due to COVID-19 restrictions.[1]
The final was played on 5 June as part of a triple-header with the semi-finals of the men's tournament.[2] For the first time the final was shown live on TV as it was shown on BBC Two.[3]
Preliminary round
edit| Home | Score | Away | Match information | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and time | Venue | Referee | |||
 Warrington Wolves
|
38–12 |  Huddersfield Giants
|
25 April 2021, 12:00 | Victoria Park, Warrington | A. Sweet |
 Wakefield Trinity
|
10–16 |  York City Knights
|
25 April 2021, 15:00 | ||
| Source:[4] | |||||
Quarter-finals
editThe draw for the quarter-finals was made on 28 April. All four ties were played on Sunday 9 May.
| Home | Score | Away | Match information | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and time | Venue | Referee | |||
| Warrington Wolves
|
6–26 |  Castleford Tigers
|
9 May 2021, 12:00 | Victoria Park, Warrington | |
| York City Knights
|
30–24 |  Wigan Warriors
|
9 May 2021, 12:00 | Mobile Rocket Stadium | |
 Leeds Rhinos
|
70–0 |  Bradford Bulls
|
9 May 2021, 15:30 | ||
 St Helens
|
44–10 |  Featherstone Rovers
|
9 May 2021, 15:30 | Victoria Park, Warrington | |
| Source:[5] | |||||
Semi-finals
editThe draw for the semi-finals were made on 9 May. The ties were played on 22 May as a double header at York City Knights' LNER Community Stadium.
| Home | Score | Away | Match information | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and time | Venue | Referee | Attendance[a] | |||
| York City Knights
|
32–4 | Castleford Tigers
|
22 May 2021, 12:30 | LNER Community Stadium, York | M. Rossleigh | 76 |
| St Helens
|
20–12 | Leeds Rhinos
|
22 May 2021, 15:00 | M. Mannifield | 76 | |
| Source:[6] | ||||||
Final
editThe final of the women's challenge cup, was played at Leigh Sports Village, on 5 June 2021 as part of a triple header with the semi-finals of the men's tournament.
| Home | Score | Away | Match information | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and time | Venue | Referee | Attendance[a] | |||
| York City Knights
|
6–34 | St Helens
|
5 June 2021, 11:15 | Leigh Sports Village | Marcus Griffiths | 4,000 |
| Source:[7][8] | ||||||
Broadcast matches
edit| Round | Match | Date | Broadcast method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Final | York City Knights v St Helens | 5 June 2023 | Broadcast live on BBC Two |
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ Stephen, Hughes (10 March 2021). "Women's Super League to return in April". Serious About Rugby League. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
- ^ Darbyshire, Drew (7 May 2021). "Challenge Cup triple-header to take place in June". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "BBC to show Women's Challenge Cup final". BBC Sport. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- ^ "Warrington and York make Challenge Cup progress". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3, 274. 26 April 2021. p. 24.
- ^ "Women's Challenge Cup Quarter Finals". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3, 276. 10 May 2021. p. 26.
- ^ "Women's Challenge Cup Semi Finals". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3278. 24 May 2021. p. 26.
- ^ "St Helens outclass York to take Women's Challenge Cup with Woosey double - Rugby league - The Guardian". The Guardian. 5 June 2021. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ "2021 Annual Report" (PDF). RFL. p. 16. Retrieved 4 April 2024.