Eight teams will battle it out this weekend to move one step closer to the first-ever Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final to be held at Wembley Stadium.
Defending champions St Helens – who lifted the title in a nail-biting final versus Leeds Rhinos at Elland Road last season – welcome Warrington Wolves to the Totally Wicked Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Matty Smith’s St Helens head into the weekend on the back of a derby day victory over Wigan Warriors last weekend, live on The Sportsman. Despite a strong start to the season, Saints will be without both captain Jodie Cunningham who is recovering from a knee injury and prolific winger Leah Burke who has been ruled out earlier this week with an ACL injury.
Warrington will be looking to improve on their 38-4 defeat to St Helens when they met in the group stages of this year’s competition. However, a win over Huddersfield Giants in the league last week will have lifted spirits.
There is Welsh representation in this year’s Quarter Finals thanks to Betfred Women’s Super League South champions Cardiff Demons who overcame both Salford Red Devils and Featherstone Rovers in the group stages.
Their reward for an impressive showing in the early stages of the Challenge Cup is an unenviable trip to the undefeated York Valkyrie who have won all six of their competitive outings in 2023. Lindsay Anfield’s side have conceded just five tries so far this season whilst clocking up a huge 324 points in attack already.
The game will serve as a double-header with the York Knights battle with Leigh Centurions at the LNER Community Stadium, live on Viaplay.
This televised action in the Quarter Finals of the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup comes between Wigan Warriors and Huddersfield Giants, with the game being broadcast live on The Sportsman from 11:30 on Sunday.
The two sides played out a tight-knit affair just three weeks ago in the Betfred Women’s League with Wigan eventually edging out the Giants 20-30.
The Quarter Finals begin on Saturday however as two-time winners Leeds Rhinos host Leigh Leopards at Headingley Stadium.
Leeds have had an indifferent start to their season losing two of their opening three Betfred Super League fixtures whilst having also lost the trio of Georgia Roche, Fran Goldthorp and Georgia Hale to the NRLW. Strike centre Caitlin Beevers also remains on the sidelines.
As for the Leopards, they’ll come into the game full of confidence following a late drop-goal victory over Featherstone Rovers last weekend in their first outing at the Leigh Sports Village. The win saw Leigh climb to the top of Group Two in the Betfred Women’s Super League.
Despite the form guide sitting in Leigh’s favour, a victory for the Leopards would be a huge shock and undoubtedly the biggest win in their short history.
Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Quarter Finals:
Saturday 17 June
Leeds Rhinos v Leigh Leopards, 1pm - Headingley Stadium
Sunday 18 June
Wigan Warriors v Huddersfield Giants, 11:30am - Robin Park, live on The Sportsman
St Helens v Warrington Wolves, 12:30pm - Totally Wicked Stadium
York Valkyrie v Cardiff Demons, 2pm - LNER Community Stadium
