St Pats opened the scoring on 30 minutes, Becky Greenfield barging over to break the deadlock.

A tense and tight game continued as Thatto scored the second try of the game, through Charlotte Hill, to level the scores at 4-4 with just ten minutes left.

But Jess Hopkins found a gap in the defence for a dramatic winning try with just minutes left after a hard-fought armwrestle in the closing stages.

Meanwhile, Castleford Tigers won the Yorkshire County Cup Final over the weekend, edging out Oulton Raidettes, last year’s winners, 32-20 away from home.

Katie Hepworth’s contribution proved crucial for the Tigers, going over for two tries and kicking two goals.

Shanelle Mannion also scored a brace, with Jasmine Cudjoe, Kelly Beckett and Emma Lumley grabbing four-pointers of their own to see the Tigers over the line.

Reagan Walker scored twice for Oulton, adding two goals, with Sam Longley and Danielle Anderson also going over, but it proved to be in vain for the Raidettes.

Report by Rebecca Bird courtesy of Women’s Rugby League

In the Women’s Challenge Cup Semi Final Featherstone Rovers Ladies hosted Wigan St Patricks and the home side progressed to the final with a 30-16 win. Featherstone’s Kayleigh Bulman and Brogan Churm both scored twice, and Andrea Dobson and Emma Slowe both scored one each. Nat Gilmour added three goals.  It was a hard fought win for Featherstone.

Wigan battled throughout and Kerry Ann Smith scored twice with Charlotte Foley and Emily Baggaley scoring once each.

In the other Semi Final Bradford Bulls Ladies hosted Thatto Heath St Helens and again it was a home victory with Bradford winning 22-10.

Bradford’s Savannah Andrade scored twice with Beth Sutcliffe and Amy Hardcastle both scoring one each. Claire Gardener added three goals.

Thatto Heath St Helens  scored twice, once from Faye Gaskin and once from Emily Rudge with Tara Stanley added one goal but the Bulls had the edge on the day and progress to their first final having knocked out the cup holders.

Both the Challenge Cup Final and Challenge Shield Final will take place as a double-header on July 30 (venue to be confirmed).

Meanwhile in the quarter finals of the County Cup York Knights Ladies were up against Castleford Tigers and it is the Tigers who go on to the semi finals with a 16-8 victory.

Castleford Tigers tries were scored by: Emma Ryan, Jasmine Cudjoe, Kelly Beckett and Katie Hepworth.

Women’s Rugby League – Challenge Cup Semi  Final Results

Sunday 18th June 2017

Bradford Bulls Women 22  Thatto Heath St Helens 10

Featherstone Rovers Ladies 30  Wigan St Patricks Ladies 16

Quarter Final County Cup

York City Knights Ladies 8 Castleford Tigers Ladies 16

Next week fixtures Sunday 25th June 2017:

Women’s Premier Division

Oulton Raidettes v Leigh Miners Rangers Ladies

Women’s Challenge Shield

Batley Bulldogs v Army RL Ladies

York City Knights v Whitley Bay Barbarians

North West County Cup

Wigan St Patricks Ladies v Leigh Miners Rangers Ladies

Thatto Heath St Helens Reserves v  Barrow Ladies

The game swung 12 minutes from time when York, at this point behind on the score but on top in the game, lost possession at the play the ball, only to see Oulton surge 70 metres upfield and score through Abigail Burton.

The score proved pivotal and Oulton went on to add two further scores to close the game out.

Defence was on top in the first half but, in a tight match, Oulton took a two-score lead through tries from Kirsty Nash and Kath Redpath, the latter from an impressive tackle bust out wide.

However, moments before the break, York hit back through the outstanding Paige Stevens, whose powerful runs caused Oulton problems throughout the match, leaving York 4-8 down at the break.

Despite York starting brightly in the second period, Oulton stretched their lead to ten points with a close range Burton score, converted by stand-off Amie Backhouse, the only goal of the game.

Then followed a period of sustained York pressure, Oulton conceding a number of penalties as frustrations rose, before the game-breaking try, Burton’s second and Oulton’s fourth.

With little doubt now in the result, the Raidettes cut loose and added further scores through Reagan Walker and a second for Redpath with halfback Mary Tiplady now in complete charge of the game, managing her side’s attack.

Kay Rollinson and Paige Stevens were York’s best on the day, but Tiplady edged the MVP (Most Valuable Player) award, ahead of impressive team mate Kath Redgrave.

Women’s RL Yorkshire Cup Final 2016 – York City Knights Women 4 Oulton Raidettes 26

York City Knights – 4

Tries: Paige Stevens.

Goals:

Oulton Raidettes – 26

Tries: Kirsty Nash, Kath Redpath (2), Abigail Burton (2) & Reagan Walker.

Goals: Amie Backhouse (1).

MVP: Mary Tiplady (Oulton Raidettes)

Based in Leeds, Oulton Raidettes are one of Women’s Rugby League’s leading clubs.

They are currently on the lookout for new Open Age (16+) players alongside under 12s, 14s and 16s at all levels of experience. For more information, click here.

Report courtesy of the Rugby Football League 

Featherstone Rovers 72 – 0 East Leeds (friendly)

Thatto Heath Crusaders 30 – 28 Wigan St Patricks (Semi Final County Cup)

New Earswick All Blacks 4 – 26 Oulton Raiders (Final County Cup)