Harry Jones and Ian Golden summarise last weekend’s action featuring Welsh internationals and hopefuls…
Former Wales Wheelchair captain and record WRL international try scorer Stuart Williams returned to Super League, making his Edinburgh Giants debut and becoming the first ever Welsh international to feature for a Scottish club. He came off the bench as they were beaten by Wigan Warriors where Scott Trigg-Turner scored five tries and Mark Williams crossed for one. In the day’s opening fixture, Brogan Evans featured for the Warriors’ Reserve side as they recorded a 66-20 victory.
In the Championship West, North Wales Crusaders continued their unbeaten form as they claimed a 28-12 victory over Warrington Wolves. Mason Baker, Harry Jones and Martin Turner all featured with both Turner and Baker being successful from the tee. Jakub Wasieczko and Jonny Gill both managed to score tries for the Crusaders with Wasieczko managing a brace.
It was also a large win for the Crusaders’ men’s side as they consolidated their lead at the top of League 1 with a 56-22 win over Workington Town. Substitute Ant Walker went over for a try, with Paddy Jones also starring. Midlands Hurricanes remain three points behind them in the table following their tight win at home to Rochdale Hornets, with Luis Roberts starring on the wing. Also, Dec Tomlinson was part of the Dewsbury Rams side that lost at Keighley Cougars.
London Broncos made it two wins from two after beating Halifax Panthers in the RFL Championship, with Curtis Davies and Matt Ross starring for the capital side. Caleb Aekins helped Featherstone Rovers to a home win over Barrow Raiders. Billy Walkley made a try-scoring debut for Sheffield Eagles following his transfer from Keighley Cougars, but they lost at home to York Knights. Mike Butt had the last say for Widnes Vikings in a 22-4 defeat at Oldham. Rhodri Lloyd, Rhys Williams, Matty Fozard and Gavin Bennion were also in the Vikings side.
In the men’s Super League, Denive Balmforth was part of the Catalans Dragons line-up that lost at Wakefield Trinity. Charlie Glover in the Salford Red Devils side, but he couldn’t prevent a defeat at home to Warrington Wolves. In the reserves encounter between the two sides, Wolves also won, with Luke Thomas starring for Warrington and Fin Yates in the Salford side. Elsewhere, Oliver Garmston played for St Helens in the Super League reserves loss at Hull FC. Robbie Brook‘s Wakefield Trinity reserves side lost at Castleford Tigers, whilst Lewis Owens was in the Bradford Bulls side that lost at home to Huddersfield Giants.
Finally, for the men’s players, we had two Welsh-qualified props starting for Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in Harry Hayes and Sam Hughes as they had a close defeat at tome to Brisbane Broncos in the NRL.
Wigan Warriors, with Carys Marsh in the squad, won their second trophy of the season, as they retained the Women’s Nines at Leeds. They won the trophy scoring 144 points and conceding none. Kathryn Salter helped London Broncos to the consolation cup final but they lost out to Leigh Leopards. Cardiff Demons also attended and reached the quarter-finals, with Wales internationals Ffion Jenkins, Jasmine Gibbons, Rhi Parker, Lucia Davies, Amberley Ruck, Katie Carr and Leanne Burnell all involved.
