York hold off Leeds to reach Grand Final
York hold off Leeds to reach Grand Final. York Valkyrie book their place in the Grand Final with a superb semi-final win over Leeds Rhinos at AMT Headingley.
What happened
Image source, SWPixImage caption, Adaoha Akwiwu (second right) scored the important second try for York Valkyrie as they won through to the Women's Super League Grand FinalPublished18 September 2026Betfred Women's Super League play-off semi-finalLeeds (0) 0York (8) 12Tries: O Wood, Akwiwu Goals: Stanley 2York Valkyrie will meet reigning Women's Super League champions Wigan Warriors in the Grand Final after beating Leeds Rhinos at AMT Headingley Stadium. Home Sports Football F1 Cricket Rugby Union Rugby League Golf Boxing NFL Tennis NBA Racing Darts Netball MMA More Sports Scores Football F1 Cricket Rugby Union Rugby League Golf NFL Tennis Watch Sky Bet More Podcasts Live on Sky Get Sky Sports Sky Sports App Sky Sports with no contract Kick It Out British South Asians in Football Watch Sky Sports Other matches Fri 18th September Leeds 0 12 17:15 York Valkyrie FT Today's Fixtures & Results Women's Super League Results Women's Super League Leeds Rhinos Women vs York Valkyrie 5:15pm Friday 18th September Live on FT Leeds 0 York Valkyrie 12 Leeds vs York Valkyrie Women's Super League 5:15pm Friday 18th September Report Form Report Betting Women's Super League: York Valkyrie win 12-0 at Leeds Rhinos to book Grand Final place vs defending champions Wigan Warriors Tries from Liv Wood, Adaoha Akwiwu, in addition to penalty and conversion from Tara Jane Stanley sees York Valkyrie win Women's Super League semi-final at Leeds Rhinos; Watch Grand Final between Wigan and York live on Sky Sports on Sunday September 27 (5.
30pm kick-off) Last Updated: 18/09/26 7:30pm Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player York Valkyrie travelled to Leeds Rhinos and posted a superb victory to progress to this year's Women's Super League Grand Final York Valkyrie travelled to Leeds Rhinos and posted a superb victory to progress to this year's Women's Super League Grand Final York Valkyrie are through to the 2026 Women's Super League Grand Final against Wigan Warriors following a superb 12-0 semi-final away victory over Leeds Rhinos.
York will now face defending champions Wigan in the Grand Final at the Brick Community Stadium on Sunday September 27 (5. York, who were beaten 38-16 by Leeds on August 8, and 44-0 by Wigan a week later on August 15, have totally turned fortunes around since, defeating Leeds at home, St Helens away and Wigan at home before sealing semi-final success. The contest ended on a sour note for York too, with the news Stanley – their standout performer on the night – had failed a Head Injury Assessment (HIA), ruling her out of the Grand Final.
Watch the Women's Super League Grand Final between Wigan Warriors and York Valkyrie live on Sky Sports on Sunday September 27, with kick-off at 5.
The wider picture
Related topicsRugby LeagueLeeds RhinosYork Knights As the first half drew to a close and with Leeds camped on the York try-line on the verge of a try, a grubber-kick on the last by Leeds' Ruby Walker proved a poor one and allowed Stanley to gather and run clear. Buoyed by their reprieve, Leeds came back attacking hard at York, but Valkyrie defended superbly to keep their two-score lead intact. York proved the better side defensively and in attack on the day vs Leeds Pryce: Nobody gave us a chance – we've made it against all oddsYork Valkyrie head coach Leon Pryce to Sky Sports: "This is unbelievable.
"To come to Leeds in a semi-final against a really good squad and keep them to zero just shows. Image source, SWpix. comImage caption, Tom Johnstone scores Wakefield's second try against LeighPublished18 September 2026Betfred Super League play-off eliminatorWakefield (12) 26Tries: Smoothy, Johnstone, Vagana, Faatili Goals: Jowitt 5Leigh (6) 16Tries: Armstrong, Lam, Senior Goals: Cook 2Wakefield Trinity reached their first Super League semi-final with a dominant victory over Leigh Leopards. Credit: @OFFICIALPDC Luke Littler battled past Danny Noppert and a lively Dutch crowd to reach the second round at the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam.
" Image: Luke Littler reacted to the crowd during the match (PDC/Kelly Deckers) Should Littler win this weekend and win the following two tournaments, the World Grand Prix and European Championship, he would become the first player to hold every major darts title at the same time.
What has been reported
He would then set about trying to complete a remarkable clean sweep in November at the Grand Slam of Darts and Players Championship finals, but he's taking things one match at a time and will next face Nathan Aspinall in the second round of this week's competition. 2026 World Series of Darts Finals – Friday's resultsFriday September 18Round One x8Adam Leek 5-6 Jim LongMotomu Sakai 6-5 Callan RydzWessel Nijman 6-4 Simon WhitlockNathan Aspinall 6-4 Raymond SmithJames Wade 6-5 Damon HetaGerwyn Price 6-4 Brody KlingeLuke Littler 6-4 Danny NoppertJonny Clayton 6-3 Maik Kuivenhoven2026 World Series of Darts Finals – Second Round ScheduleSaturday September 19Afternoon Session – From 12pmJosh Rock vs Ryan SearleDaryl Gurney vs Ross SmithGian van Veen vs Karel SedlacekLuke Humphries vs Dirk van DuijvenbodeGian van Veen vs Karel SedlacekEvening Session – From 6pmJonny Clayton vs Motomu SakaiGerwyn Price vs Jim LongJames Wade vs Wessel NijmanLuke Littler vs Nathan AspinallWatch the World Grand Prix live on Sky Sports from September 28 to October 4.
Skip to main content Wakefield Trinity reach Super League semi-finals for first time with 26-16 win over Leigh Leopards despite Emre Guler red card Wakefield Trinity have made the Super League semi-finals for the first time in the club's history; The Super League Eliminators continue on Saturday October 19 as Warrington Wolves host Hull KR, with kick-off at 5. Wakefield Trinity reached their first ever Super League semi-final with a 26-16 victory over Leigh Leopards in the Eliminators.
Wakefield will now wait to find out whether they will face Wigan Warriors or Leeds Rhinos in the semi-finals. 30pm on Sky SportsSemi-finalsSemi-Final 1 – Friday September 25, Leeds Rhinos vs TBC, 8pm KO on Sky SportsSemi-Final 2 – Saturday 26 September, Wigan Warriors v TBC, 5. 30pm KO on Sky SportsThe Super League play-offs are under way, live on Sky Sports, and continues all the way through until the Grand Final from Old Trafford on October 3. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Former Brazil international Alexandre Pato is part of a consortium investing into the League Two sidePublished18 September 2026Northampton Town have confirmed they have reached agreement with a consortium including former AC Milan, Chelsea and Brazil forward Alexandre Pato over a "proposed shareholding acquisition" in the League Two club.
What happens next
There was an errorAlexander Zverev wins the second Grand Slam of his career by beating Ben Shelton 6-3, 6-6 (7-6), 5-7, 6-2 in the final of the US Open. Leon Pryce's team, who last week ended Wigan's 100 per cent record to book their place in the semi-final, managed tries through forwards Liv Wood and Adaoha Akwiwu in a tight contest. Leeds had inflicted heavy defeats on their opponents in the two regular season meetings at home, but they went into the match on the back of four straight losses, and their lack of confidence showed as they came up with errors at vital moments.
The only downside for York was that their influential stand-off Tara-Jane Stanley will miss the September 27 meeting with Wigan at the Brick Community Stadium after failing a head injury assessment. That will be a serious blow for York, who beat Wigan 26-12 last week, and a personal blow for Stanley, whose return from a two-year injury absence had sparked their run of four wins in their past five games. Leeds rallied in the second half and, after Stanley had a try disallowed for a knock-on and Megan Pakulis was denied a try by a brilliant Ruby Bruce tackle, the Rhinos seemed to have struck back only for Georgia Elliston's try to be disallowed for obstruction by a team-mate.
Stanley came up with the telling moment, a lovely pass to send Akwiwu over for York's second try, and when Ebony Stead fumbled as she went to touch down, the home side's hopes of a late revival were over.
The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across bbc.co.uk, skysports.com. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.