Argonauts qualified for the inaugural WRL Wheelchair Invitational League Grand Final after a 100-4 mauling of Torfaen Tigers.
The Kent-based side were 66-0 up at half-time with their three international players running the show. Ireland captain Peter Johnston scored five tries and five conversions, a couple of them from beyond the half-way line and Fred Nye, who has also played for Ireland, managed six first half tries. Former Wales international Richard Carver added one, with Rob Cooper adding four goals for their mammoth interval score.
It took 11 minutes for Argonauts to score in the second half, following a good spell of attacking play from Torfaen, but it was eventually Nye who scored his seventh of the game. Argonauts kept on scoring with Johnston getting three, Keiron Hammond two and Nye one. Surprisingly just the last of the tries was converted with Scott Cooper’s kick making the score 96-0. Then Torfaen finally got on the scoresheet with Leighton Morris scoring in the corner on 75 minutes. Argonauts had the last say with Hammond’s third try bringing up the century.
Hereford Harriers kept up their charge for a place in the Grand Final after beating North Wales Crusaders 80-36. A win over Cardiff Blue Dragons in a fortnight will see them qualify alongside Argonauts.
A fantastic individual try by Jacob Robinson gave Hereford the lead after just two minutes. Gary Preece soon added the second which he converted, then Wales head coach Alan Caron added the third. A stunning catch from Robinson gave him Hereford’s fourth, with Preece converting both. Further Hereford tries, from Matthew Wooloff and Robinson, followed, with Wooloff converting both to give them a 34-0 lead.
Finally, Crusaders struck back on the half-hour as Stephen Halsey went in under the sticks and converted his own try. Halsey repeated his actions a few minutes later before John Doyle went over and Halsey converted again and the Crusaders had pulled it back to being 34-18 down at the break.
Hereford quickly extended their lead in the second half as Robinson scored his fourth and Preece converted, and whilst they didn’t ever lose their advantage, Crusaders refused to give up. It was 62-18 before Crusaders got further back into the game with two Martin Turner tries and one from Wyatt Jones. Halsey converted all three.
Preece, scored two of Hereford’s eight tries after the break to complete his hat-trick but it was Robinson who really impressed, scoring another two to complete a hat-trick in each half. Phillip Davies, Wooloff and Holley also went over. Preece added four more conversions and Wooloff two.