LNER Community Stadium Will Host The Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup
The LNER Community Stadium, home of the York City Knights will host both semi-final matches of the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup this weekend. Opened at the start of the year, this modern all seater stadium has an 8,500 capacity and is home to the York City Knights and York City Football Club. The venue has also been selected as a host for the 2021 Women’s Rugby League World Cup semi-final matches later in the year.
Despite supporters returning to the mens Super League matches this week, at the request of the stadium authorities both of the women’s Challange Cup matches will unfortunately be played behind closed doors. However, both games will be streamed live by BBC Sport via the Red Button & iplayer, whilst a highlights show will also be shown on Sky Sports.
The Challenge Cup draw has produced two outstanding fixtures for different reasons, the first semi-final will see Kelsey Gentles, Rhiannion Marshall, Tamzin Renouf, Grace Field and Sinead Peach face their former team mates after all five players left Castleford Tigers to join York City Knights at the start of the month. I am fully expecting this to be a close encounter with a number of flash points and incidents as former team mates battle for a place in the Challenge Cup Final.
Chadwick Media this week caught up with Castleford Tigers player Lucey Owen to discuss the forthcoming Betfred Challenge Cup fixture and the prospect of facing her former team mates to win a place in the Betfred Challenge Cup Final on the 5th June 2021.
Interview – Lucey Owens (Castleford Tigers)
The Challenge Cup semi-final will see you face five former team mates will this create any extra pressure to win the match or is it just a normal game?
I don’t believe there is any extra pressure on us as a squad at the moment, the Challenge Cup semi-final is a big game for everyone involved and we are going out there to enjoy it and perform to the best of our ability.
Which one of your former team mates playing for York City Knights is the most dangerous in terms of their skills & ability on the field which could impact the results?
All five players that have transferred to York City Knights are fundamental to the squad. I think it’s positional as they are all capable within there positions on the field and will play a big part in the Challenge Cup semi-final.
Are you as a player doing anything different in terms of preparation & training for this one off Challenge Cup match than what you would do normally for the Super League?
Within training we aren’t changing anything, we are going about each and every session with a train how you play mentality, pushing each other both on and off the field so I don’t believe there is any need to change what we are doing.
What would it mean to you and the team to win this weekend and reach the Women’s Betfred Challenge Cup Final?
I think it would be a great achievement for us, we have faced so much adversity within the last couple of weeks and seeing us grow as a team and encourage each other has been amazing.
It’s a big year for Women’s Rugby League with the Challenge Cup Final being shown live and the Rugby League World Cup happening later in the year, how do you think the women’s game has changed over the last 5 years, in terms of the development of the game and the Media?
The development of the sport has be crazy over the last few years. Being involved in the first year or WSL and seeing the transformation has been great. I do believe Women’s Rugby League can only improve in terms of media coverage as the Challenge Cup Final being live is another great platform for viewers to see what the sport is about. With time the growth of the sport will blossom and the talent coming through the pathways which have been created for young girls will only benefit the women’s game over time. Also the World Cup being in England is another platform for us to be able to showcase what can be done on home soil, again it will hopefully get more people involved in the women’s game.
Challenge Cup holders Leeds Rhinos will face St Helens in the second semi-final of the day and with both clubs currently unbeaten in the Betfred Super League it looks as though this could be a classic fixture. The Rhinos are currently undefeated in all competitions scoring over seventy points in their opening four games. Fran Goldthorp and Caitlin Beevers are both playing some outstanding rugby and making runs with the ball, which last weekend lead to both players scoring hat-tricks against Wakefield Trinity.
St Helens are currently top of the Betfred Women’s Super League winning their opening three league fixtures, the Saints solid start to the season is down to a well balanced side that have scored 230 points and only conceded 6 points at the other end. St Helens will be looking for their three players Amy Hardcastle, Danielle Bush and Jodie Cunningham to have a big impact on the semi-final, as between them they have scored nearly half of the Saints points this season.
Chadwick Media this week caught up with Leeds Rhino’s player Caitlin Beevers to discuss the forthcoming Betfred Challenge Cup fixture and the prospect of facing an inform side in St Helens side to win a place in the Betfred Challenge Cup Final on the 5th June 2021.
Interview – Caitlin Beevers (Leeds Rhino’s)
Leeds Rhino’s and St Helens are the two inform teams in the Super League at the moment what would you say are St Helens strong points as a side and how will you combat those this weekend?
Saint Helens are a very physical and skilful. Our game plan is to play the style of play we do so well and consistently but don’t get bored of it. This weekend we’re focusing on us.
What would it mean to you and the team to win this weekend and reach the Women’s Betfred Challenge Cup Final?
It would be massive for us to win the Semi final. We want to make it to the final again to retain our title. Since the women’s super league started in 2018 we have been the only team to win that trophy and I think that’s something really special. We’ve got a point to prove.
Which St Helens player is the most dangerous in terms of their skills and ability on the field that could impact on the score and results?
I think Jodie Cunningham is a very dangerous player. She kicks, she’s fast and she’s one of the best play makers in the game. Definitely an inspiration for any player
As the Rugby League World Cup comes closer how are you ensuring you will be included in the squad and what do you think England’s chances are of winning the 2021 Rugby League World Cup?
I think we have a very good chance of winning the World Cup. When I’m at the England training sessions I look around and think we have a very strong but skilful bunch of players to pick from. During the pandemic I have been following the session plans given out by England and making myself accountable. It has been tough but to get into that last selection you’ve got to be resilient.
It’s a big year for Women’s Rugby League with the Challenge Cup Final being shown live and the Rugby League World Cup happening later in the year, how do you think the women’s game has changed over the last 5 years, in terms of the development of the game and the Media?
I think the women’s game has massively improved in terms of media, coverage and just all round visibility for the game and players. I think it’s very important to have the women’s game in the spotlight because if you’d have asked me who played for England or what teams were in the top women’s league prior to it being advanced in 2018 I wouldn’t have been able to tell you. With academies being brought into the game as well, I really think it will help with the games development and improve the competition in the future.
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