The 2019 RFL Women's Super League known as the Betfred Women's Super League for sponsorship reasons was the third season of the Rugby League Women's Super League for female players in clubs affiliated to the Rugby Football League .
The champions were Leeds Rhinos who beat Castleford Tigers 20–12 in the Grand Final on 11 October 2019.[ 1] Castleford Tigers won the league leaders shield, a 44–0 win over York City Knights in round 13 put them three points clear of nearest rivals, St Helens , with a round to spare.[ 2]
For 2019, the number of teams was expanded from seven to eight, with the addition of Wakefield Trinity to the league.[ 3]
The season comprised 14 rounds, with each team playing each other home and away, commencing on 7 April and ending on 29 September. Following the regular season, the top four teams played off against each other in two semi-finals, with the Grand Final played on Friday 11 October, at the Totally Wicked Stadium in St Helens and broadcast live on Sky Sports .[ 4]
On 15 August 2019 it was announced that Betfred would become the sponsors of the league with immediate effect in a deal that will run until the end of the 2021 season.[ 5]
The defending champions were Wigan Warriors , who beat League Leaders Shield winners Leeds Rhinos , 18–16 at the Grand Final at the Manchester Regional Arena .[ 6] Wigan were eliminated from the play-offs after they lost 34–4 to Castleford Tigers in the semifinals.
Fixtures and results
edit
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Bradford Bulls
38–16
Featherstone Rovers
7 April 2019, 12:45pm
Odsal Stadium
Leeds Rhinos
54–4
Wakefield Trinity
7 April 2019, 1:00pm
Sports Park, Weetwood
Wigan Warriors
4–6
St Helens
7 April 2019, 1:00pm
Robin Park Arena
York City Knights
0–80
Castleford Tigers
7 April 2019, 2:00pm
York St John University Sports Park
Source:[ 7]
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Featherstone Rovers
16–24
Leeds Rhinos
14 April 2019, 1:30pm
LD Nutrition Stadium
Wigan Warriors
14–36
Castleford Tigers
14 April 2019, 2:00pm
Orrell St James
York City Knights
6–10
Wakefield Trinity
14 April 2019, 2:00pm
York St John University Sports Park
St Helens
24–0
Bradford Bulls
22 April 2019, 12:00pm
Totally Wicked Stadium
Source:[ 8]
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Bradford Bulls
60–6
Wakefield Trinity
28 April 2019, 12:30pm
Odsal Stadium
Castleford Tigers
27–0
Leeds Rhinos
28 April 2019, 1:00pm
Mend-A-Hose Jungle
York City Knights
0–62
Wigan Warriors
28 April 2019, 2:00pm
York St John University Sports Park
St Helens
54–16
Featherstone Rovers
28 April 2019, 5:45pm
Totally Wicked Stadium
Source:[ 9]
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Wigan Warriors
4–12
Leeds Rhinos
12 May 2019, 1:00pm
Robin Park Arena
Castleford Tigers
30–14
St Helens
12 May 2019, 2:00pm
Mend-A-Hose Jungle
Wakefield Trinity
8–40
Featherstone Rovers
12 May 2019, 2:00pm
The Mobile Rocket Stadium
York City Knights
4–38
Bradford Bulls
12 May 2019, 2:00pm
York St John University Sports Park
Source:[ 10]
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
York City Knights
0–50
Leeds Rhinos
2 June 2019, 12:00pm
York St John University Sports Park
Wakefield Trinity
0–66
St Helens
2 June 2019, 2:00pm
Mobile Rocket Stadium
Wigan Warriors
42–4
Featherstone Rovers
2 June 2019, 2:00pm
Robin Park Arena
Bradford Bulls
22–42
Castleford Tigers
6 June 2019, 7:30pm
Odsal Stadium
Source:[ 11]
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Leeds Rhinos
16–30
St Helens
21 July 2019, 12:30pm
Headingley
Bradford Bulls
16–20
Wigan Warriors
21 July 2019, 1:00pm
Odsal Stadium
Castleford Tigers
54–8
Wakefield Trinity
21 July 2019, 5:00pm
Mend-A-Hose Jungle
Featherstone Rovers
18–16
York City Knights
22 September 2019, 2:00pm
LD Nutrition Stadium
Source:[ 13] [ 14]
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Castleford Tigers
50–16
Bradford Bulls
4 August 2019, 1:00pm
Mend-A-Hose Jungle
Featherstone Rovers
18–16
Wigan Warriors
4 August 2019, 1:00pm
LD Nutrition Stadium
Leeds Rhinos
30–0[ a]
York City Knights
4 August 2019, 1:00pm
Sports Park, Weetwood
St Helens
60–0
Wakefield Trinity
4 August 2019, 5:00pm
Totally Wicked Stadium
Source:[ 16]
^ Match abandoned after 39 minutes due to Sophie Robinson suffering a serious leg injury. The score at the time was 30–0, after consultation with both clubs the RFL decided not to order the game to be replayed with the score at the time of abandonment to stand as the result.[ 15]
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Bradford Bulls
18–32
St Helens
11 August 2019, 1:00pm
Odsal Stadium
Castleford Tigers
56–8
Wigan Warriors
11 April 2019, 1:00pm
Mend-A-Hose Jungle
Leeds Rhinos
52–0
Featherstone Rovers
11 August 2019, 1:00pm
Sports Park, Westwood
Wakefield Trinity
4–20
York City Knights
11 August 2019, 2:00pm
Sharlston Rovers
Source:[ 17]
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Castleford Tigers
74–8
Featherstone Rovers
1 September 2019, 1:00pm
Mend-A-Hose Jungle
York City Knights
0–56
St Helens
1 September 2019, 1:00pm
York St John University
Wigan Warriors
52–6
Wakefield Trinity
1 September 2019, 2:00pm
Robin Park Arena
Source:[ 19]
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Wakefield Trinity
4–36
Castleford Tigers
8 September 2019, 1:00pm
The Mobile Rocket Stadium
Wigan Warriors
20–20
Bradford Bulls
8 September 2019, 2:00pm
Robin Park Arena
York City Knights
16–26
Featherstone Rovers
8 September 2019, 2:00pm
York St John University
St Helens
20–20
Leeds Rhinos
8 September 2019, 3:00pm
Ruskin Park
Source:[ 20]
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Wakefield Trinity
4–66
Leeds Rhinos
14 September 2019, 1:00pm
The Mobile Rocket Stadium
Featherstone Rovers
22–14
Bradford Bulls
15 September 2019, 2:00pm
L D Nutrition Stadium
St Helens
28–0
Wigan Warriors
15 September 2019, 2:00pm
Ruskin Park
Castleford Tigers
44–0
York City Knights
17 September 2019, 7:00pm
Mend-A-Hose Jungle
Source:[ 21]
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Featherstone Rovers
26–0
Wakefield Trinity
29 September 2019, 1:00pm
LD Nutrition Stadium
Bradford Bulls
P–P[ a]
York City Knights
29 September 2019, 2:00pm
Neil Hunt Memorial Ground
Leeds Rhinos
16–0
Wigan Warriors
29 September 2019, 2:15pm
Weetwood Sports Park
St Helens
20–14
Castleford Tigers
29 September 2019, 3:00pm
Ruskin Park
Source:[ 22]
^ match postponed, pitch unplayable due to heavy rain
Play-off semi-finals
edit
Home
Score
Away
Match Information
Date and Time
Venue
Referee
Castleford Tigers
34–4
Wigan Warriors
6 October 2019, 13:00
Mend-A-Hose Jungle
St Helens
14–18
Leeds Rhinos
6 October 2019, 13:00
Totally Wicked Stadium
A. Moore
Source:[ 23]
Castleford Tigers
12–20
Leeds Rhinos
Tries: Lumb, Owen, GentlesGoals: Stanley 0/3
report
Tries: Goldthorp 2, Eatock, FrainGoals: Hill 2/4
Leeds completed a league and cup double with 20–12 victory over Castleford in the Grand Final on 11 October 2019. In a game televised live on Sky Sports Castleford took an early advantage with two tries in the first five minute; the scorers being Maisie Lumb and Lacey Owen . Leeds pulled a try back through Abby Eatock and these were the only points of the first half with the half-time score being 8–4 to Castleford.
In the second half, it was Leeds who proved to be the stronger side with three tries in close succession, two for 16-year old winger Fran Goldthorp and one for Elle Frain . Leeds captain Courtney Hill converted two of the tries to give Leeds a 20–8 lead. Kelsey Gentles did score a late try for Castleford to make the score 20–12 but it was too late for Castleford to catch up.[ 24]
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
PF
PA
PD
Pts
Qualification
1
Castleford Tigers
14
13
0
1
625
160
+465
26
League Leaders Shield /Play off semi-finals
2
St Helens
14
12
1
1
522
131
+391
25
Play-off semi-finals
3
Leeds Rhinos
14
10
1
3
410
151
+259
21
4
Wigan Warriors
14
6
1
7
328
224
+104
13
5
Featherstone Rovers
14
6
0
8
237
450
−213
12
6
Bradford Bulls
13
4
1
8
300
282
+18
9
7
York City Knights
13
1
0
12
68
522
−454
2
8
Wakefield Trinity
14
1
0
13
64
634
−570
2
^ "Castleford 12-20 Leeds: Teenage winger Fran Goldthorp stars as Rhinos complete women's cup double" . Daily Mirror . 11 October 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019 .
^ "Glory for Tigers". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,192. 23 September 2019. p. 22.
^ "Wakefield Trinty join Women's Super League for 2019 season" . BBC Sport . 3 December 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2019 .
^ "Sky Sports to broadcast Women's Super League Grand Final" . Love Rugby League . 17 September 2019.
^ "Betfred sponsor Women's Super League as Grand Final brought forward" . Love Rugby League . 15 August 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2019 .
^ "Women's Super League Grand Final: Wigan Warriors beat Leeds Rhinos to win title" . BBC Sport . 13 October 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2019 .
^ "Women's Super League Round One". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,168. 8 April 2019. p. 31.
^ "Frain stars as Rhinos win". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,169. 15 April 2019. p. 29.
^ "Tigers road past Challenge Cup holders". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,171. 29 April 2019. p. 30.
^ "Women's Super League Round Four". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,173. 13 May 2019. p. 26.
^ "Tigers roar on". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,177. 10 June 2019. p. 32.
^ "Fev stubborn, but Cas too strong". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,180. 1 July 2019. p. 32.
^ "Fev stubborn, but Cas too strong". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,180. 1 July 2019. p. 32.
^ "Rovers snatch it late". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,192. 23 September 2019. p. 22.
^ "Abandoned women's game between Leeds and York will not be replayed" . Love Rugby League . 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019 .
^ "Tigers bounce back in style". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,185. 5 August 2019. p. 35.
^ "Clayton guides York to first win". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,186. 12 August 2019. p. 28.
^ "Tigers have too much for Rhinos". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,187. 19 August 2019. p. 29.
^ "Tigeresses march on". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,189. 2 September 2019. p. 30.
^ "Play-off race stays alive". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,190. 9 September 2019. p. 30.
^ "Saints hammer Warriors". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,191. 16 September 2019. p. 27.
^ "Tigers finally tamed". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,192. 30 September 2019. p. 21.
^ "Betfred Women's Super League semi-finals". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,194. 7 October 2019. p. 18.
^ Marsden, Lorraine (14 October 2019). "Leeds a thorn in Tigers' side again". Rugby Leaguer & League Express . No. 3,195. p. 27.