Cardiff Demons made another slice of history for Welsh Women’s Rugby League by securing a place in the Quarter Finals of the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup in their first season in the competition.
The Demons claimed a 36-18 win in Cardiff against Featherstone Rovers, who were the inaugural winners of the Women’s Challenge Cup in 2012, with Kaitlin Hubbert scoring two of their eight tries.
After an away win at Salford in their previous game, it means Leanne Burnell’s team finish second in Group 1 behind Wigan Warriors, with both teams now entering Friday night’s quarter final draw – which will be held at Headingley and broadcast live on BBC Radio 5 Live after live coverage of the Betfred Super League fixture between Leeds Rhinos and St Helens.
Wigan maintained their 100% record with a 60-0 win against Salford Red Devils at Robin Park, and as group winners will be guaranteed home advantage in the last eight – with all qualifying teams now only two wins from an historic appearance at Wembley Stadium as the Final will be played as part of a double header on Betfred Challenge Cup Finals Day on August 12.
Holders St Helens confirmed their place in the last eight with a 38-4 win against Warrington Wolves in their first game at the Totally Wicked Stadium this season, with skipper Jodie Cunningham scoring two of their seven tries.
Georgia Sutherland scored the only try for a Wolves team who had also confirmed their quarter final place with wins against London Broncos and Castleford.
The Broncos, the other team from Betfred Women’s Super League South who accepted an invitation to play in the Challenge Cup, had the considerable consolation of claiming their first victory by beating Castleford 40-4 in Richmond.
Leeds Rhinos and York Valkyrie also maintained their impressive form with convincing wins over the teams who were already guaranteed to join them in the last eight – Leeds 52-0 away at Huddersfield Giants, and Valkyrie 54-0 at Leigh Leopards.
Tara Moxon, who was a member of the Papua New Guinea squad in last autumn’s World Cup, scored a hat-trick for Rhinos, while Georgia Taylor, Ellie Hendry and England hooker Sinead Peach each scored two tries for York.
