It was semi-final time in a few competitions last weekend, with our Welsh internationals and hopefuls involved. Pic: Paul Cowan.
The top two sides in the Women’s Championship table qualified for the Grand Final, and there will be a Welsh winner in the final. London Broncos, the league leaders shield winners, beat Salford Red Devils in Chiswick, Kathryn Salter kicked three goals in their 22-10 win, with Emily Hughes also starring. Featherstone Rovers, who fielded Ashlea Prescott on the wing on Sunday, will travel to London for the final on the 28th after overcoming Cardiff Demons 20-14. Both sides scored three tries each, it was just Rovers’ kicking, which included two penalties, that separated them. Welsh internationals involved in the Cardiff side were Leanne Burnell, Brittony Price, Amberley Ruck (who kicked a goal), Rhi Parker, Jasmine Gibbons, Ffion Jenkins, Charlie Mundy, Sara Jones, Meg Whittaker (who scored a try), Katie Carr and Lauren Aitken.
However, we’ll have no representation in the Wheelchair finals in a fortnight. Hereford Harriers lost a thriller at Castleford Tigers, going down 36-35 in the Wheelchair Championship semi-final. Gary Preece looked to have secured the tie for Hereford with a field goal, after personally registering two tries and seven goals earlier in the encounter, but Castleford won through in the end. Lee Sargent scored two of Hereford’s other tries. In their final Wheelchair Super League games of the season, Jodie Boyd-Ward scored a try for Leeds Rhinos in their win over Stuart Williams‘ Edinburgh Giants, whilst Scott Trigg-Turner was involved in Wigan Warriors’ loss to Halifax Panthers.
In the men’s Academy, Warrington Wolves beat Wigan Warriors 24-10 to qualify for that final. Isaac Holdsworth went over for a try for Warrington, with Junior Westwood also playing. Sam Dickenson was in the Warrington side. In the other semi-final, Oliver Garmston‘s St Helens lost at Leeds Rhinos.
Dani McGifford finished the regular season as the Women’s Super League’s top try scorer after scoring twice in their win at Leigh Leopards to end up on 19 for the season. Elsewhere, Gracie Hobbs helped Huddersfield Giants to a win over Barrow Raiders, but Agnes Wood‘s York Valkyrie were beaten at Leeds Rhinos.
It was the final round of the regular season as well in the RFL men’s Championship, and a few of our internationals faced each other at Widnes Vikings, where the home side was overcome 20-10 by London Broncos. Rhodri Lloyd, on his last game for the Vikings, signed off with a try, with his fellow Welsh team-mates Mike Butt and Matty Fozard also in the starting line-up. Matt Ross and Curtis Davies helped London to their win.
Curtis’ twin brother also saw success. Connor Davies and Owen Restall both starred in Halifax Panthers’ win over Doncaster, Billy Walkley signed off the Sheffield Eagles season well with a try in their win over Barrow Raiders, but Caleb Aekins‘ Featherstone Rovers were defeated at Bradford Bulls. Elliot Kear also played his final club game at the weekend. He started at full-back in Batley Bulldogs’ defeat at Bailey Antrobus‘s York Knights.
Denive Balmforth was recalled from his loan spell at Catalans Dragons and scored for Hull FC as they beat Luke Thomas‘ Warrington Wolves in Super League. Finally, Harry Hayes was involved in Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs’ NRL play-off defeat at Melbourne Storm.
