2012 Women's Challenge Cup

The 2012 Women's Challenge Cup was an English rugby league knockout tournament competed for during the summer of 2012. This was the first staging of the Challenge Cup and it was won by Featherstone Rovers who beat Bradford Thunderbirds 46–0 in the final. The Challenge Shield was won by Widnes Vikings who beat Stanningley 40–10 in the final. Both finals took place on 15 July 2012 at the Tetley's Stadium, Dewsbury.^[1][2]

2012 Women's Challenge Cup

Winners	Featherstone Rovers
Runners-up	Bradford Thunderbirds
Biggest home win	Widnes Vikings 86 – 0 Crosfields
Biggest away win	Nottingham Outlaws 0 – 44 Featherstone Rovers
2013 →

Round One

The first round was played on 15 April:^[3]

• Chorley Panthers 54 – 10 Leigh Miners Rangers^[4]
• Hunslet Hawks 42 – 4 Brighouse^[5]
• Leigh East 34 – 0 West Craven Warriors^[6]
• Ovendon 4 – 44 Whinmoor Warriors^[7]
• Stanningley 40 – 10 Guiseley^[8]
• Widnes Vikings 86 – 0 Crosfields^[9]
• Wigan St Patricks 66 – 0 Oulton Raidettes^[10]

Round Two

Leeds Akkies, West London and the six Premier Division sides entered the competition in the second round^[11] which was played on 13 May:

• Bradford Thunderbirds 58 – 6 Stanningley^[12]
• Chorley Panthers 24 – 0 Leeds Akkies^[4]
• Featherstone Rovers 24 – 0 Leigh East^[13]
• Hunslet Hawks 18 – 48 Castleford Panthers^[14]
• Wigan St Patricks 4 – 16 Nottingham Outlaws^[15]
• Widnes Vikings 0 – 10 Warrington Wolves^[16]
• Coventry Bears – Bye^[11]

Quarter Finals

The quarter-finals were played on 27 May and 17 June:

• Bradford Thunderbirds 64 – 10 Chorley Panthers^[12]
• Castleford Panthers 30 – 6 Whinmoor Warriors^[14]
• Coventry Bears 18 – 30 Warrington Wolves^[16]
• Nottingham Outlaws 0 – 44 Featherstone Rovers^[13]

Semi Finals

The semi-finals were played on 1 July:

• Bradford Thunderbirds 64 – 6 Castleford Panthers^[12]
• Featherstone Rovers 50 – 10 Warrington Wolves^[13]

Final

The final was played on 15 July with a score of Bradford Thunderbirds 0–46 Featherstone Rovers^[12][13][17]

Bradford Thunderbirds	0 – 46	Featherstone Rovers
	report	Tries: Lindsay Anfield (3), Andrea Dobson (2), Emma Slowe, Dani Titterington, Dani Bound, Paula McCourt Goals: Andrea Dobson (3), Kim Field (2)

15 July 2012 3:30 pm BST[18]

Tetley's Stadium, Dewsbury Referee: John Seymour Player of the Match: Andrea Dobson

Challenge Shield

Shield Round One

The first round took place on 27 May and 29 May:

• Guiseley 36 – 8 Oulton Raidettes^[10]
• Hunslet Hawks 64 – 14 Ovenden^[5]
• West Craven Warriors 22 – 18 Leigh Miners Rangers^[6]

Shield Quarter Finals

The quarter-finals took place on 17 June:

• Brighouse 0 – 32 Stanningley^[8]
• Crosfields 0 – 24 Hunslet Hawks^[5]
• West Craven Warriors 20 – 44 Guiseley^[6]
• Widnes Vikings 58 – 4 Wigan St Patricks^[9]

Shield Semi Finals

The semi-finals took place on 1 July:

• Guiseley 0 – 16 Stanningley^[8]
• Hunslet Hawks 4 – 46 Widnes Vikings^[9]

Shield Final

The final was played on 15 July with a score of Widnes Vikings 40–10 Stanningley.^[2][19]

Widnes Vikings	40 – 10	Stanningley
Tries: Tara-Jane Stanley (2), Gemma Stanley (2), Laura Burke, Rebecca Sloan, Victoria Whitfield	report	Tries: Manina Spurr, Helen Martin

15 July 2012 1:30 pm BST[18]

Tetley's Stadium, Dewsbury Player of the Match: Tara-Jane Stanley

References

1. "Coral Women's Challenge Cup Semi-Final Preview". Rugby-League.com. 5 July 2019. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
2. Smith, Sophia (16 July 2012). "Rugby: Widnes win Challenge Shield Final". Sport Sister. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012.
3. "Women's Rugby League heads into summer". A Brighter Future. Rugby Football League. 9 March 2012. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012.
4. "Chorley Panthers". Women's Rugby League. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012.
5. "Hunslet Hawks". Women's Rugby League. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012.
6. "West Craven Warriors". Women's Rugby League. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012.
7. "Whinmoor". Women's Rugby League. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012.
8. "Stanningley Sports & Amateur Rugby league Club". Women's Rugby League. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012.
9. "Widnes Vikings Ladies". Women's Rugby League. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012.
10. "Oulton Raiders". Women's Rugby League. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012.
11. "Women's Challenge Cup draw completed". Yorkshire Rugby League. 23 March 2012. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012.
12. "Bradford Clayton Thunderbirds". Women's Rugby League. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012.
13. "Featherstone Rovers". Women's Rugby League. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012.
14. "Castleford Panthers". Women's Rugby League. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012.
15. "Nottingham Outlaws". Women's Rugby League. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012.
16. "Warrington Women & Girls". Women's Rugby League. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012.
17. "Featherstone win Women's Challenge Cup". Love Rugby League. 16 July 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
18. "Rams face nightmare trip to Leigh". Dewsbury Reporter. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
19. "News". Women's Rugby League. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012.