2018_RFL_Women's_Super_League
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.
| 2018 Women's Super League | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 14 rounds |
| Teams | 7 |
| Matches played | 42 |
| Points scored | 1,942 |
| Champions |  Wigan Warriors Women |
| League Leaders Shield |  Leeds Rhinos Women |
| Woman of Steel |  Georgia Roche |
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.
Two of the seven teams are newly formed for this season, one is renamed and the other four were in existence before 2018.
| Colours | Club | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Bradford Bulls Women | Bradford, West Yorkshire | inaugural champions in 2017. |
|
Castleford Tigers Women | Castleford, West Yorkshire | |
 |
Featherstone Rovers Ladies | Featherstone, West Yorkshire | |
|
Leeds Rhinos Women | Leeds, West Yorkshire | Newly formed for 2018.[3] |
 |
St Helens R.F.C. Women | St Helens, Merseyside | Previously known as Thatto Heath Ladies.[4] |
|
Wigan Warriors Women | Wigan, Greater Manchester | Newly formed for 2018.[5] |
 |
York City Knights Ladies | York, North Yorkshire |
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.
Round 1
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | |||
| St Helens |
40–0[lower-alpha 1] | 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
Round 2
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | |||
| Featherstone Rovers |
6–36 | Leeds Rhinos |
9 May 2018, 7:30pm[lower-alpha 1] | 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
Round 3
| 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
Round 4
| 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
Round 5
| 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
Round 6
| 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
Round 7
| 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
Round 8
| 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
Round 9
| 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
Round 10
| 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
Round 11
| 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
Round 12
| 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
Round 13
| 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
Round 14
| 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
| 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 |
Semi-finals
| 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] | |||||
Grand final
| Leeds Rhinos |
16 – 18 | Wigan Warriors |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Marshall, Beevers, S. Hill Goals: C. Hill (2) |
report |
Tries: Thompson (3), Wilson Goals: Foley |
13 October 2018 1:00pm BST |
| 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.
- "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.
- "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.
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- "Last-gasp glory for Warriors". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3,143. 15 October 2018. p. 24.