St Helens' women's side retained the Challenge Cup with a 18-8 victory over Leeds Rhinos. The Saints, who won the domestic double in 2021, continued their dominance with victory at Elland Road. Eboni Partington's double was enough for the champions as the club's dominance across the domestic game continued.
But this was arguably their biggest test so far. Saints trailed 8-4 at the break against a determined Rhinos outfit, who took the lead on 15 minutes through Zoe Hornby. Leah Burke responded but Courtney Wingfield-Hill's penalty goal mean the Rhinos had a four point advantage at the interval.
However, Saints stormed back and scored 14 unanswered points after the break to secure the title. Partington scored shortly after the break to bring the game level, and what followed was an attritional period in which both sides were unable to turn territory into points.
Wingfield-Hill missed a penalty goal on the hour which would have put the Rhinos back ahead. Instead, Saints went straight up field and Woman of Steel Jodie Cunningham crashed over to put them ahead for the first time. With three minutes remaining, Amy Hardcastle put Partington away for her second to secure the win in front of St Helens' large following.
