Leeds Rhinos returned to action with a 28-6 win at Castleford in the Betfred Women’s Super League play-offs after a second-half double from captain Courtney Winfield-Hill.
In a repeat of the 2019 Grand Final, the clash went true to form with Rhinos, who finished the regular season with a 100 per cent record, able to secure a routine victory on the road.
Plenty of rain prior to kick-off contributed towards an even opening 40 with the score 6-6 at the interval, but the visitors showed their class after the restart with Winfield-Hill crossing over twice before Tara Moxon and Sophie Robinson also got in on the act.
St Helens, who finished second behind Rhinos, also opened their play-off account with success after a 32-0 triumph over York City Knights.
The Challenge Cup winners again proved too strong for Knights like had been the case in the final back in June with Carrie Roberts helping herself to a hat-trick of tries.
Zoe Harris also went over twice while Beth Stott, Danielle Bush, Amy Hardcastle and Tara Jones adding to the hosts’ tally on a day to forget for the away side.
In the Women’s Super League Shield, for the five teams who finished in the bottom half of the table, Warrington Wolves claimed an impressive 24-6 victory at Bradford Bulls with Georgia Sutherland and Charlotte Melvin grabbing tries.
Featherstone Rovers edged a thriller against Huddersfied Giants in the other Shield fixture, with Brogan Churm’s late score earning a dramatic 16-14 win for the home team.
