Harry Jones and Ian Golden review last week’s action containing Welsh internationals and hopefuls.
The new Wheelchair Super League season started last weekend, and there were plenty of Wales wheelchair internationals in that and other competitions, with just one of Alan Caron’s 10-player Celtic Cup squad not in action.
In Edinburgh, Jodie Boyd-Ward helped to make history as she captained her Leeds Rhinos squad to a 114-6 victory over Super League newcomers, Edinburgh Giants. Olivia Fulton captained the Scottish side meaning that for the first time ever, a Wheelchair Super League game saw a female captain on each side. Boyd-Ward who is entering her third season as Rhinos captain managed to cross the whitewash for two tries in her side’s dominant victory.
In Wigan, international trio Brogan Evans, Scott Trigg-Turner and Mark Williams all faced against Sheffield Eagles. Trigg-Turner stared for the Warriors in their 80-4 Super League opener, scoring five tries and five conversions, whilst Evans and Williams played for Wigan reserves in the curtain-raiser, the latter scoring a solitary try and four conversions as the Warriors came away 86-0 victors.
Over in the Championship West, there was a strong Welsh contingent for both North Wales Crusaders and Hereford Harriers as both teams were able to record victories in each of their respective fixtures. North Wales Crusaders went over for 19 tries in their 108-26 victory over Salford Red Devils. Six of the Crusaders nine players have all featured for Wales in the past 12-months as 2024 internationals, Jess Booth, Harry Jones and Martin Turner all contributed towards the score, Booth crossed once, Jones with a brace and Turner a hat-trick plus one goal. The 2025 Welsh debutants Jakub Wasieczko and Jonny Gill also contributed, with Wasieczko scoring four tries and Gill kicking seven goals. The experienced Stuart Williams scored four tries.
Hereford Harriers edged a narrow seven-point victory over Warrington Wolves. Gary Preece kicked a game-changing drop-goal whilst also managing five goals for his Hereford side. Jamie Reynolds scored a couple of tries, with Lee Sargent, Jason Reynolds and Rich Carver also starring.
In the Women’s Championship, Cardiff Demons saw odd Sheffield Eagles 36-6 at home with Leanne Burnell running over for four tries and Amberley Ruck one. Other Welsh internationals to feature for Cardiff were Lucia Davies, Meg Whittaker, Ffion Jenkins, Charlie Mundy, Sara Jones, Rhi Parker, Katie Carr and Amy Price. Elsewhere, Ashslea Prescott was in action for Featherstone Rovers in their win at Bradford Bulls.
Dani McGifford was the top performer in the Women’s Super League this week, running over a hat-trick of tries as St Helens beat Warrington Wolves. Elsewhere, Agnes Wood was an away winner with York Valkyrie as they edged out Gracie Hobbs‘ Huddersfield Giants.
Luke Thomas came off the bench for Warrington Wolves in their men’s Super League defeat to Huddersfield Giants, whilst Isaac Holdsworth starred for the Warrington reserves as they beat Huddersfield. Elsewhere in the Super League Reserves, Oliver Garmston‘s St Helens lost at home to Wigan Warriors, with Robbie Brook‘s Wakefield Trinity losing at Leeds Rhinos.
In the Championship, Caleb Aekins helped Featherstone Rovers to a home win over Halifax Panthers. Rhys Williams ran over for a try for Widnes Vikings, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a home defeat to York Knights. Mike Butt, Matty Fozard and Gavin Bennion were also in the Widnes side.
In League 1, Midlands Hurricanes, starring Luis Roberts, failed to gain ground on North Wales Crusaders as they suffered a 13-12 home defeat to Goole Vikings. Sam Grice, on loan with Workington Town, enjoyed a home win over George Birch‘s Newcastle Thunder, whilst Dec Tomlinson was in the Dewsbury Rams side that beat Whitehaven.
