St Helens beat York to reach Challenge Cup final

Betfred Women's Challenge Cup semi-final

St Helens (6) 32

Tries: Burke, D. Stott, Rudge, Hook 2, Sutherland Goals: Gaskin 4

York (0) 2

Goal: Marshall

Holders St Helens reached their fourth successive Women's Challenge Cup final with an impressive victory over York Valkyrie.

Faye Gaskin kicked them in front with an early penalty before Leah Burke's try gave them a 6-0 half-time lead after they had withstood a barrage of York pressure.

Saints then stretched clear in the second half as Darcy Stott and Emily Rudge powered over, and Phoebe Hook scored twice, including a stunning solo effort.

Georgia Sutherland added a sixth try late on, with Rhiannion Marshall kicking a penalty for York's only points of the game.

St Helens will now face the winners of Sunday's second semi-final between Wigan and Leeds on Saturday, 8 June at Wembley.

York, beaten at the same stage of the competition by Saints last season courtesy of Gaskin's last-gasp drop-goal, had won 20-16 when the sides met in Women's Super League last month.

But they were hit by illness in the build-up to this match, including losing former Woman of Steel Tara Jane Stanley.

And, after failing to make the most of a period of territorial dominance after falling behind to Gaskin's early penalty, that setback told.

St Helens were clinical to make the most of a 40-20 to extend their lead before the break when Burke went over in the left corner.

Captain Jodie Cunningham then took centre stage, setting up both Stott and Rudge to crash over.

Hook then cut in off the right wing to race through the York defence for a fine solo try, before sprinting away to score a second in the corner.

Sutherland barged over late on to add gloss to the scoreline and send Saints back to Wembley.

Post-match reaction

St Helens captain Jodie Cunningham, who was named player of the match, told BBC Sport:

"It's amazing [to be going back to Wembley]. It couldn't have worked out any better today. I had a really great feeling this morning, the girls prepared so well this week, and I couldn't be any prouder with that performance.

"That first half was really tough, they're such a good defensive side and we knew it would take our best to break their defence. We were patient, I'm just really proud of a disciplined and professional performance.

"You can't not [think about playing at Wembley], it's so big. Last year was even better than we could have imagined so when you've tasted it once, you want to get back there again. This was so important. There were girls in the group who didn't taste Wembley and we wanted to do it for them."

St Helens: Salihi, Hook, E. Stott, Malcolm, Burke, Harris, Gaskin, Whitfield, Jones, Crowl, Travis, Rudge, Cunningham.

Interchanges: Williams, D. Stott, Mottershead, Sutherland

York: Hetherington, Partington, Renouf, Roberts, Kershaw, Rihari, Eastwood, Wood, Wilton, Stimpson, Owen, Andrade, Bell.

Interchanges: Marshall, Gentles, Sanderson, Sharp.

Referee: Aaryn Belafonte