BWSL : Round 2 Preview

The Betfred Women’s Super League returns this weekend for another round of action – including a bumper clash between Leeds Rhinos and York Valkyrie at the LNER Community Stadium on Sunday (KO 3pm). 

The fixture will be a repeat of last year's semi-final where York narrowly defeated Leeds on their way to securing back-to-back Super League titles. The Valkyrie had to depend on a strong defensive effort that day, fending off a Leeds comeback in the second half.  

2024 Woman of Steel Georgie Hetherington proved to be crucial that day – a strong run in the first half set her side up just outside the 10-metre area and on the next of the set, Kelsey Gentles used her strength to force her way over for the opening try. 

Whilst Lindsay Anfield’s side had the better of Leeds during that semi-final, the Rhinos were unbeaten against York between 2018 and 2022 as they won nine consecutive games in all competitions, but a change in 2022 saw the Valkyrie fight back to win both league games that year but fall in the season finale.?Since then, the club has won four of their last six meetings against Lois Forsell's side and drawn once in a 12-12 stalemate in 2023. 

Current League Leaders’ Wigan Warriors take on Barrow Raiders on Sunday (KO 2pm) at Robin Park Arena with the hosts defeating their opponents on each of their previous four meetings – including during the group stage of this year’s Challenge Cup campaign. 

In Super League, Anna Davies scored five tries when the two sides met in Round 6 last season. The winger scored a first-half hat-trick before adding two more in the second period, with her side's other tries coming from Grace Banks, Abbie Singleton, Kaitlin Hilton and Rease Casey. 

Huddersfield Giants will host St Helens at Laund Hill (KO 2pm) with the hosts yet to beat their opponents in any of their previous meetings. The Giants struggled to get a foot in against the Red V in 2024 with their last fixture resulting in a 40-8 loss.  

Elsewhere, there’ll be a meeting of neighbours Leigh Leopards and Warrington Wolves on Saturday (KO 12pm). It will be the first time the two sides have ever faced one another with the Leopards coming into the fixture off the back of an impressive 42-10 defeat over Barrow last weekend. Ged Ginty’s Warrington put up a good fight against Huddersfield in Round 1 but are still on the hunt for their first points of the season.

Betfred Women’s Super League Round 2 fixtures:

Saturday 24 May 

Leigh Leopards v Warrington Wolves, Leigh Sports Villiage (KO 12pm) 

Sunday 25 May 

Huddersfield Giants v St Helens, Laund Hill (KO 2pm) 

Wigan Warriors v Barrow Raiders, Robin Park (KO 2pm) 

York Valkyrie v Leeds Rhinos, LNER Community Stadium (KO 3pm) 

The full fixture list for the Betfred Women's Super League can be found here.