York Valkyrie v Huddersfield Giants: Challenge Cup Match Preview

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York Valkyrie open their 2025 season with a trip to Huddersfield Giants in the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup at Laund Hill on Sunday (3pm)!

It’s the first of two group games in this year’s competition, with Featherstone Rovers completing the Valkyrie’s pool.

For this year, the cup includes the eight Betfred Women’s Super League teams, plus four from the Championship, drawn in four seeded groups of three. Two teams from each group will qualify for the quarter finals.

This tie sees Lindsay Anfield’s Super League Champions take on another of the Super League teams, coached by Lori Halloran.

She led them to a sixth place finish in the table last year, winning four of their fourteen league games.

Anfield’s Valkyrie squad has a number of new faces this year, with Australian half-back, Ellie Williamson linking up with the Valkyrie, along with the likes of Tara Moxon from Leeds and Demi Fisher from Barrow.

This season also signals the return of former Woman of Steel, Sinead Peach, who missed last year to become a mum.

They’ll be facing a Huddersfield team which includes England’s Amelia Brown, former Leeds Rhino, Sam Hulme and ex-Valkyrie, Eva Izumi.

After winning back to back Super League titles, the Challenge Cup is the only major trophy to have eluded the Valkyrie. After reaching the final in 2021, where they lost to St.Helens, they’ve made the semi-finals every year since.

The Giants have reached the quarter-finals for the last three years, losing to eventual winners, St.Helens last year.

York Valkyrie take on Huddersfield Giants in the Betfred Women's Challeng Cup on Sunday at Laund Hill, Huddersfield, HD3 3XF (3pm).

You can pay on the gate, with tickets priced at £8 for adults, £3 for Under 16s, and cash and card are accepted.

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