By Seb Sternik

THE eyes of the women's rugby league world will have turned towards York City Knights Ladies following a week which culminated in a thrilling win over Wigan Warriors.

Five Castleford and two Bradford Bulls players left their respective clubs to join up with York just a few days before this Betfred Women's Challenge Cup quarter-final clash with Wigan.

And York certainly made use of their newly signed players as the club continued their week of good news with a superb 30-24 victory over the Warriors.

The Knights will now face Castleford Tigers in what is a highly-anticipated semi-final contest.

York got off to a great start as Wigan conceded a penalty straight from kick off. York had possession deep in Wigan's half and, from a spectacular Rhiannion Marshall offload, Grace Field crossed the whitewash

The Knights had a lot of momentum in the opening 10 minutes, though Wigan were beginning to find their feet. After a short spell of pressure, they found the try line courtesy of Anna Davies.

Moments later, Wigan were over again as Rachel Thompson edged the Warriors 8-6 ahead. Two missed kicks from Georgia Wilson kept York within touching distance.

On the 20th-minute mark, York found another breakthrough. On this occasion, the Knights charged down the right wing and Bethany Lambert crossed.

Two consecutive efforts from Wigan followed as Rebecca Greenfield and Emily Stirzaker helped the Warriors to an 18-12 lead.

It seemed like Wigan were going to go into the interval with their six-point lead intact but a last-gasp charge from York changed the complexion of this match.

Mel Halstead finished off a well-worked move down the left wing and Marshall produced her second touchline conversion to make it 18-18.

With a place in the Challenge Cup semi-final on the line, the pressure was palpable and the early parts of the second half saw a few errors.

Wigan enjoyed a lot of possession in the first 10 minutes after the restart but were unable to find a breakthrough.

Instead, York rediscovered their groove and dug out a try of their own to go 24-18 ahead. A brilliant kick from Sinead Peach allowed Grace Field to chase and touch down to the right of the sticks.

Wigan were far from finished, though, and in the 64th minute, the Warriors responded with a beautifully worked effort. Thompson crossed and Wilson converted to make it 24-24.

The game went back and forth as both teams threatened to find the winner.

Then, in the dying moments of the contest, Kelsey Gentles broke through the Wigan defence and charged towards the whitewash. The Cherries defence scrambled to step the full-back from going over but a flurry of passes soon found Field.

The forward then powered through Wigan's defence and touched down under the sticks to seal a thrilling victory for York.