Giants Women 0 Rhinos Women 54

Leeds Rhinos Women ended the group stages of the Betfred Women’s Challenge with a convincing 52-0 win against Huddersfield Giants.  It was another impressive defensive display from the Rhinos who haven’t conceded a point in their last three fixtures.

The result meant Leeds finished top of their table as the competition moves to the quarter final stages. 

The teams had met just over a month previous and Leeds had finished with a club record score of 80-0 in that league fixture, but this game proved to be a much tougher contest with a spirited Giants side testing the Rhinos defence.

Leeds began the try scoring through Bethan Dainton, who was back in the side following her appearance for the Army in their winning Inter Services final.  The second rower took two minutes to get the first try, running from half way under the posts.  Eloise Hayward adding the extras.

The Rhinos camped themselves in the Giants half but the hosts stood firm until the eighth minute when the ball was spread across the line to Hanna Butcher who dived over in the corner.  Five minutes later, Mayzi Carter sent Tara Moxon away for her first try of the game before Amy Hardcastle extended the lead for the visitors.

Leeds stood firm in defence and held Giants over the line and eventually were able to break free with Bethan Dainton racing the length of the field for her second try.

A great inside ball from Dannielle Anderson to Jasmine Cudjoe saw the hooker go over from close range as the half drew to a close and Moxon then wrapped up the half with another try from Moxon after a perfectly timed pass from Carter to make it 36-0 at the break.

Moxon picked up where she left off to complete her hat trick two minutes after the restart.  Carter making a break upfield to get the Rhinos on the front foot and Caitlin Casey with the offload to the winger who dived over in the corner.

Butcher got her second after a Dainton offload allowed the Rhinos captain to dummy and go through a gap.

Leeds kept up the pressure and powerful runs from Kaiya Glynn and Hardcastle made good ground for the Rhinos.  Izzy Northrop, playing against her former club on her birthday, took advantage of the strong field position to run clear through under the posts.  Tasha Gaines finished up a satisfying performance from Lois Forsell’s team with a try in the corner to seal the 54-0 win for her team