York Valkyrie were presented with the League Leaders’ Shield and St Helens secured home advantage in the first round of the Play-Offs on the last day of the regular 2023 season in the Betfred Women’s Super League - while Featherstone Rovers secured automatic promotion to the top tier when it is expanded to eight teams in 2024, thanks to a big helping hand from Barrow at Leigh.
Lindsay Anfield’s Valkyrie had already clinched top spot for the second consecutive season, and completed an unbeaten 10-match campaign with a 60-4 romp against Huddersfield Giants – with Carrie Roberts, the former St Helens, British Army and England centre who joined them midway through the campaign, scoring three of their tries.
York will now host Wigan Warriors in the first of the BWSL Semi Finals at 330pm on Saturday September 23 – and if they win that game, they will also enjoy home advantage in the Grand Final on Sunday October 8.
The second Semi Final will be a repeat of the first Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final at Wembley between St Helens and Leeds Rhinos, and will kick off at 6pm at the Totally Wicked Stadium, also on Saturday September 23 – with both Semi Finals, and the Grand Final, live on Sky Sports.
The Rhinos had nudged above Saints into second place in the table by beating Wigan 24-0 at Headingley on a steamy Saturday lunchtime, with the former Saints centre Amy Hardcastle scoring two of their tries.
But Saints reclaimed second spot with a 56-6 win against Warrington Wolves, three of their tries coming from the effervescent England forward Paige Travis.
The matches were much tighter in Group 2.
Leigh Leopards started the day in the box seat for the automatic promotion place, but it was never going to be easy against third-placed Barrow – and Amanda Wilkinson’s Raiders gatecrashed the party at the Leigh Sports Village with a 14-12 win.
Kieron Purtill’s Leopards will have a second opportunity to secure promotion in the Play-Offs, in which they will face Salford Red Devils in the Semi Finals.
But it is Featherstone who can already start preparing to join the elite teams in 2024 after they beat Salford 28-18 at the Millennium Stadium.
Barrow will host Bradford Bulls in the Semi Finals, meaning form would suggest a likely rematch with Leigh in the Promotion Play-Off Final – which will be played as the first part of a double header with the BWSL on Sunday October 8.
Betfred Women’s Super League Play-Offs
Group 1
York Valkyrie (1st) v Wigan Warriors (4th) – LNER Community Stadium, Saturday September 23, 330pm kick-off (live on Sky Sports)
St Helens (2nd) v Leeds Rhinos (3rd) – Totally Wicked Stadium, Saturday September 23, 6pm kick-off (live on Sky Sports)
Group 2
Barrow Raiders v Bradford Bulls
Leigh Leopards v Salford Red Devils
(weekend of September 23-24 – dates and venues tbc)
Sunday October 8: Betfred Women’s Super League Grand Final (3pm) and Promotion Play-Off Final (12pm) – live on Sky Sports (venue tbc)
