Wigan Warriors Secure Second Consecutive Women's Challenge Cup Title
Wigan Warriors successfully defended their Women's Challenge Cup title with a commanding 52-6 victory over St Helens at Wembley Stadium. The team produced a clinical performance, scoring ten tries to overwhelm their rivals.
In the Betfred Women's Challenge Cup final, Wigan's try scorers included Georgia Wilson, Eva Hunter with four tries, Beri Salihi, Anna Davies with two tries each, Grace Banks, and Remi Wilton. Izzy Rowe contributed seven goals to the total score.
Denis Betts' squad demonstrated dominance from the outset, taking control with an early try from Georgia Wilson and maintaining pressure throughout the match. Eva Hunter's two early tries extended Wigan's lead, while Beri Salihi and Anna Davies also crossed the line before Lucy McColm scored for St Helens just before halftime.
Shortly after the break, Davies scored again within the first minute of the second half. Grace Banks and Remi Wilton added further tries, and Hunter completed her hat-trick with two additional tries, bringing her total to four. The match was a challenging day for St Helens, who struggled to contain Wigan's attacking prowess.
Wigan's victory preceded the men's final later that day, where their male counterparts faced Hull KR. Since both finals have been held on the same day at Wembley starting in 2023, no club has won both the men's and women's finals on the same day.
Match Progression and Key Moments
Within six minutes, Wigan took the lead as they worked the ball wide for Wilson to score. Their second try came on their second attack, with Jenna Foubister setting up Eva Hunter, who evaded defender Paige Travis to score.
Hunter continued her impressive start with a second try minutes later, outpacing St Helens defenders after exploiting a gap on the left wing. St Helens faced a difficult afternoon as Foubister's high lateral pass to Ellise Derbyshire led to Beri Salihi scoring. Wigan closed the first half with an impressive try by Anna Davies, who dived at the right-hand corner, narrowly avoiding touch.
St Helens responded with a try from Lucy McColm just before halftime, showcasing strength to ground the ball. Despite this, the first half was largely dominated by Wigan, with Izzy Rowe's conversion attempts being mostly successful except for one that hit the crossbar.
Early in the second half, Davies scored again within 44 seconds, exploiting a weakened St Helens defense. Grace Banks followed with a try, and Hunter secured a hat-trick with 20 minutes remaining, adding two more tries in the half. Remi Wilton completed the scoring with Wigan's tenth try, capping a remarkable team performance.
Wigan's Performance Reflects a Shift in Women's Rugby League
The late-May heatwave continued during the match, but Wigan maintained intensity from the start and controlled the game throughout. Betts' team exhibited excellent ball handling and dominated possession, leaving St Helens with limited opportunities.
St Helens, who had won the competition four consecutive times before Wigan's first victory last year, were clearly outmatched. Their possession was infrequent, and when they had the ball, they struggled with passing speed and team shape, limiting attacking options.
While Wigan appeared unfazed by the heat, St Helens showed uncharacteristic sluggishness and had difficulty mounting effective attacks. McColm's try before halftime was a rare positive moment for Saints, but their defensive vulnerabilities were exploited repeatedly by Hunter and Davies.
This match served as a statement from Wigan, following their 2025 thrashing of St Helens and subsequent treble, signaling a new era in women's rugby league.
Team Lineups
Wigan Warriors: Grace Banks; Anna Davies, Georgia Wilson, Beri Salihi, Ellise Derbyshire; Jenna Foubister, Izzy Rowe; Coleman, Remi Wilton, Dainton, Eva Hunter, Jones, Williams.
Interchanges: Marsh, Atherton, Gentles, Sams.
St Helens: Rotheram; Burke, Hardcastle, Woosey, McGifford; Harris, Gaskin; Hoyle, Casey, McDonald, Travis, Rudge, Cunningham.
Interchanges: Mottershead, Whitfield, Bridge, McColm.
