Summary

  • FT: St Helens 34-6 York City Knights

  • Saints win Women's Challenge Cup for first time

  • York beat Castleford Tigers 32-4 in the semi-finals

  • St Helens reached the final after a 20-12 win over Leeds Rhinos

  1. Saints a side to watchpublished at 13:15 British Summer Time 5 June 2021

    #bbcrl

    Rachael Woosey celebrates at try for St HelensImage source, Rex Features

    That's it for our coverage of the 2021 Women's Challenge Cup final.

    St Helens are the side which made history by winning the trophy for the first time.

    Saints have made a brilliant start to the new Super League season and look like they'll be the team to stop this year.

    If you're after more rugby league action, then there's a double-header of semi-finals in the men's Challenge Cup this afternoon.

    Hull FC take on St Helens at 14:30 BST, before Castleford face Warrington at 17:00 BST.

    You can follow coverage of those matches here.

  2. Hardman proud of Saints grouppublished at 13:13 British Summer Time 5 June 2021

    FT: York City Knights 6-34 St Helens

    Quote Message

    They are a great, coachable group of girls. We always knew we'd be fitter, as we have had a great 18 months and trained really hard. Today we scored at crucial times and got what we deserved. It is great to see them do it on this stage

    Derek Hardman, St Helens head coach on BBC Two

  3. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 13:12 British Summer Time 5 June 2021

    #bbcrl

    Josh: What a spectacle and advertisement for Women’s Rugby League. Credit to both teams for being a part of this piece of history.

  4. Trophy liftpublished at 13:10 British Summer Time 5 June 2021

    FT: York City Knights 6-34 St Helens

    The St Helens players are pick up their medals, before Jodie Cunningham raises the Challenge Cup trophy on the Leigh Sports Village pitch.

    The flame-throwing pyrotechnics go off in the background.

    The Saints team are loving the moment.

  5. Rudge 'pleased with performance'published at 13:09 British Summer Time 5 June 2021

    FT: York City Knights 6-34 St Helens

    Quote Message

    I'm made up for the girls. We have worked really hard over the past two years to get here and had some disappointments. There were nerves early on but once we got settled, we played some good rugby and I'm really pleased with the performance. It feels like a great team we are building now

    Emily Rudge, St Helens second row on BBC Two

  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 13:07 British Summer Time 5 June 2021

    #bbcrl

    John Sheridan: Enjoyed that. Well done St Helens on an impressive win but let's not forget the effort York put in

    Graham Littler: Some great Rugby League action. Well done ladies.

    Aaron Miller: Cracking game from the girls there! Well done Saints. And well done to York for never backing down and you can all hold your heads high!

  7. 'They've earned that'published at 13:06 British Summer Time 5 June 2021

    FT: York City Knights 6-34 St Helens

    Robbie Hunter-Paul
    Former New Zealand international on BBC Two

    Look at them. They're absolutely loving every second of it, and so they should.

    They've deserved it. That scoreline does not tell a lie.

    They were put under an immense amount of pressure in the opening 15 minutes of both halves. They've have to earn it, it wasn't gifted to them.

    They met fire with fire.

  8. Postpublished at 13:04 British Summer Time 5 June 2021

    FT: York City Knights 6-34 St Helens

    St Helens players celebrate on the pitch.

    Several of these players, including Jodie Cunningham, have tasted victory with Thatto Heath before.

  9. ST HELENS WIN WOMEN'S CHALLENGE CUPpublished at 13:02 British Summer Time 5 June 2021
    Breaking

    FT: York City Knights 6-34 St Helens

    St Helens have won the Women's Challenge Cup for the first time in the club's history.

    It's a deserved victory for Saints, who ran in seven tries.

    York City Knights put in a spirited display on their first appearance in the final, but were punished for their errors by clinical opponents.

    Emily Rudge celebratesImage source, Rex Features
  10. Postpublished at 77 mins

    York City Knights 6-34 St Helens

    Almost a late try for St Helens, but Savannah Andrade does enough to force Carrie Roberts into touch on the right-hand side, with the centre closing in on the Knights line.

  11. Postpublished at 75 mins

    York City Knights 6-34 St Helens

    York City are back on the ball.

    But the Knights have been unable to find the inspiration to break down the St Helens defence for almost all of the game.

  12. 'York need to finish with power, panache and passion'published at 12:54 British Summer Time 5 June 2021

    York City Knights 6-34 St Helens

    Robbie Hunter-Paul
    Former New Zealand international on BBC Two

    St Helens got their rhythm back, they've weathered the storm.

    This is hugely important for this York team, they're a new team that has come together.

    They need to understand how to finish off this game - with power, panache and a lot of passion so they can learn from this experience.

  13. Postpublished at 72 mins

    York City Knights 6-34 St Helens

    It's been St Helens' afternoon, and Derek Hardman's side are closing in on their first-ever Women's Challenge Cup,

    Will there be a late flourish and any more tries to round off their afternoon?

  14. Postpublished at 12:51 British Summer Time 5 June 2021

    York City Knights 6-34 St Helens

    Robbie Hunter-Paul
    Former New Zealand international on BBC Two

    That's a try every day of the week. There's nothing going on.

  15. try

    CONVERTED TRY - York City Knights 6-34 St Helenspublished at 69 mins

    Paige Travis, con Beth Stott

    The replay shows there is enough pressure in the grounding.

    It was a great finish from Paige Travis, who burst through a couple of defenders to reach the line.

    She then had enough strength to hold off the challenge of Kelsey Gentles, who has switched to full-back.

    Beth Stott adds the extras from just to the left of the sticks.

  16. TRY REVIEWpublished at 69 mins

    York City Knights 6-28 St Helens

    Paige Travis batters her way to the York City line, but there's a question over the grounding....

    Referee Marcus Griffiths has asked for a television review.

  17. Postpublished at 68 mins

    York City Knights 6-28 St Helens

    York City Knights forward Emily Farrow drops the ball in contract, to give Saints the ball on halfway.

  18. Postpublished at 65 mins

    York City Knights 6-28 St Helens

    York City are on the attack again, but the kick on the last tackle from Rhiannon Marshall doesn't come off.

    The Saints defence has soaked up a lot of pressure at Leigh Sports Village.

  19. Postpublished at 62 mins

    York City Knights 6-28 St Helens

    Into the final 10 minutes, and York City Knights have a mountain to climb.

    Saints have been on the back foot for much of the game, but their backs have been clinical when chances have come their way.

  20. 'Nothing stopping Roberts'published at 12:41 British Summer Time 5 June 2021

    York City Knights 6-28 St Helens

    Robbie Hunter-Paul
    Former New Zealand international on BBC Two

    Once again it's great lead-up play.

    There was nothing stopping Roberts from running to the try-line.