Ian Golden reports on the weekend’s events featuring Welsh internationals and hopefuls. Pic: Ben Challis.
Billy Walkley had the performance of the week, scoring his first-ever first team hat-trick of tries, leading Keighley Cougars to an 82-6 win at Newcastle Thunder in League 1. That’s seven tries in the last three matches for the former Aber Valley Wolves player.
Elsewhere in that competition, there was a thriller in Colwyn Bay as North Wales Crusaders lost 37-36 at home to Rochdale Hornets. Owain Abel kicked six goals for Crusaders. George Birch was in the Thunder side. Jude Ferreira played for Hunslet as they lost at home to Workington Town, whilst Matt Ross was in the Cornwall side as they fell at home Midlands Hurricanes.
There’s only days to go before Wales Women’s big World Cup qualifier against Ireland at Cardiff University Sports Park in Llanrumney and Bethan Dainton not only starred for Leeds Rhinos in their win over Huddersfield Giants in the opening match of the Women’s Super League, but also attended Wales training the next day. That game was the first of a double-header between the two clubs, with Luis Roberts on the wing for Leeds’ men’s side as the narrowly lost to the Giants. Also in the men’s Super League, Gil Dudson came off the bench in their win over Salford Red Devils.
In the men’s Championship, Rhys Williams scored a try in Swinton Lions’ 50-22 win over Dewsbury Rams. Owen Restall and Curtis Davies each scored a try in reply for the Rams. Caleb Aekins helped Featherstone Rovers to a win over a Widnes Viking side that included Rhodri Lloyd, Mike Butt, Matty Fozard and Ant Walker. Batley Bulldogs, who fielded Elliot Kear lost at home to Wakefield Trinity, Chester Butler‘s Bradford Bulls lost at York Knights, whilst Max Clarke also suffered defeat as Barrow Raiders went down at home to Doncaster.
In the NRL, Sam Hughes scored a try for Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs as they beat Newcastle Knights for whom Bradman Best scored a last consolation try. Josh Ralph was in the St George Illawarra Dragons Reserves side as they lost at home to New Zealand Warriors Reserves in the NSW Cup.