Leeds Rhinos Women 68 Cardiff Demons 0

By Joshua Mee

Leeds Rhinos Women made it three wins in a row to book their place in the semi final of the Betfred Women's Challenge Cup at AMT Headingley with Liv Whitehead scoring four tries in a thumping 68-0 win against Cardiff Demons.

In their opening three games, Lois Forsell's team have scored 222 points and have also not concdeded a single point, which has seen them comfortably progress to the next stage of the competition.

Whitehead opened the scoring after just three minutes, going over in the corner to give Rhinos the perfect start.  The Rhinos then went on a try-scoring spree, adding four more tries before the 15-minute mark to make the score 24-0. Ebony Stead, Mel Howard, and debutant Nicole Kennedy all got their names on the scoresheet in this period, whilst Whitehead doubled her personal tally.

The pressure did not ease, though, with the hosts adding two more tries before half-time. Both Lucy Murray and Ella Donnelly got in on the action, bringing the score to a healthy 36-0 lead at the break.

In the second half, it was more one way traffic. Howard got her second almost immediately after the restart, and then minutes later Whitehead followed her over to complete an excellent hattrick. The half century was then brought up as Tally Bryer darted past the Demons defence to get herself a try.

Ruby Enright then scored, followed by a second for Stead and a first for Ruby Bruce, before Whitehead then got her fourth and Rhinos’ 14^th try of the match.

As the game came to a close, Cardiff nearly got a try themselves, chasing down a ball in the Rhinos end zone but the referee ruled the score out, giving Leeds an impressive clean sheet.

The Rhinos will now play in the semi-final on Sunday 10th May at the Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster, kick off 1pm.