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Figure caption,Wigan beat St Helens to retain Challenge Cup
ByJay FreemanBBC Sport, North West, AtWembley Stadium- Published1 hour ago
Betfred Women's Challenge Cup final
Wigan (28) 54
Tries: Wilson, Hunter 4, Salihi, Davies 2, Banks, Wilton Goals: Rowe 7
St Helens (6) 6
Tries: McColm Goals: Gaskin
Wigan Warriors retained the Women's Challenge Cup as they scored 10 tries to thrash rivals St Helens in a clinical performance at Wembley.
Denis Betts' side reigned supreme in a 42-6 victory one year ago, but this was an even better performance as they took control through Georgia Wilson's early try and never looked back.
Eva Hunter scored two tries to further extend their lead, with Beri Salihi and Anna Davies also touching down before Luci McColm spared St Helens' blushes just before the half-time hooter.
Davies dotted down inside the first minute of the second half, while Grace Banks and Remi Wilton got on the scoreboard and Hunter added another brace of tries to bring her tally up to four on an afternoon to forget for St Helens.
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Figure caption,'Woman of steel!' - Hunter's tries for Wigan
Wigan's win comes shortly before their counterparts take on Hull KR in the men's final later on Saturday.
Since 2023, the men's and women's finals have taken place on the same day at Wembley - but no one side has ever won both finals.
Inside the opening six minutes, Wigan were ahead courtesy of a neat and tidy set as they worked the ball wide to Wilson, who duly crossed over.
Such was their clinical start that Wigan's second try came from their second attack and was even better, as Jenna Foubister teed up Hunter, who evaded Paige Travis to run in with ease.
Hunter's stunning start continued with a second try just minutes later. She raced in again down the left wing to put Wigan in control, this time outpacing the St Helens defenders after exploiting a gap in the line.
A long afternoon continued for St Helens as Foubister's high lateral pass to Ellise Derbyshire was played quickly to Salihi, who did well to keep control of the ball before dotting down.
Wigan rounded off the half with an impressive score, as Davies dived down at the right-hand corner and successfully managed to do so without going into touch by a matter of millimetres.
St Helens finally hit back as McColm showed great strength to touch down just before half-time.
The first half was as chastening for Saints as it was in 2025's cup final defeat by Wigan, with Izzy Rowe's final conversion attempt of the opening 40, which dipped down and off the crossbar, the only blot on her copybook in an otherwise excellent first period with the boot.
Wigan virtually put themselves out of sight just 44 seconds into the second half as Davies ran in past a depleted St Helens defence, before Grace Banks outpaced the St Helens defence again as the Warriors threatened the 40-point mark with half an hour remaining.
Hunter battered her way through to ground the ball for a sensational hat-trick with 20 minutes still to play and showed great skill to run in for her second of the half and fourth of the afternoon.
But Wigan did not let off despite their bumper score, as Wilton added their 10th try of the afternoon soon after to put the gloss on a stunning performance.
Wigan performance shows they have changed the game
Image source, SWPixImage caption, Wigan Warriors won their second consecutive Challenge Cup final with a comprehensive victory over St Helens at Wembley Stadium
The late-May heatwave continued into Saturday but the conditions did not slow down Wigan, who turned up the heat from minute one and never looked in doubt of retaining their crown.
Betts' side were once again sublime with the ball and dominated the match, leaving St Helens with very little to do but watch them race in time and again.
Yet it was not just Wigan's brilliance that was the story of the game - St Helens were simply outmatched.
Saints had won this competition four times in a row leading up to Wigan's first-ever win in a final last year, yet that era has ended with a resounding thud.
Wigan dominated possession but when Saints did have a rare spell with the ball, they were slow to pass and move and struggled for shape to give them options.
While Wigan seemed unfazed by the heat on the field, Saints were uncharacteristically placid and struggled for much in the way of attack.
McColm's try on the verge of half-time was the outlier for St Helens, yet it was their defence that was their undoing.
Wigan carved them open with ease, as Hunter and Davies played havoc with their defence either side of the break.
If 2025's thrashing of Saints and subsequent treble was Wigan announcing themselves in the women's game, this clinical performance on Saturday was a marker that the game has changed.
Wigan: Banks; Davies, Wilson, Salihi, Derbyshire; Foubister, Rowe; Coleman, Wilton, Dainton, 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.
Referee: Aaron Moore.
