Harry Jones and Ian Golden report on how Wales’ internationals and hopefuls got on last weekend.
Cardiff Demons moved to the top of the RFL Women’s Championship with an exciting 34-26 win at home to Hull Kingston Rovers. The Welsh side fielded 11 internationals but it was Zoe Heeley who was the star player with four tries. One of the internationals, Amy Price, scored a try, with another, Amberley Ruck kicking four goals. Lucia Davies, Meg Whittaker, Rhi Parker, Jasmine Gibbons, Ffion Jenkins, Hannah Jones, Charlie Mundy, Sara Jones and Katie Carr also played.
Elsewhere in the Women’s Championship, Ashleigh Prescott was involved in Featherstone Rovers’ win at Oulton Raiders.
The Women’s Super League kicked off last weekend, with St Helens starring Dani McGifford and Leeds Rhinos, with Bethan Dainton sharing the spoils in a 20-20 draw. In other games, Carys Marsh played for Wigan Warriors in their crushing win over York Valkyrie, whilst Gracie Hobbs was in the Huddersfield Giants side that won at Warrington Wolves.
Featherstone Rovers’ men’s side also tasted success, with Caleb Aekins scoring a try in their 1895 Cup semi-final win at Oldham to reach Wembley Stadium. Gil Dudson was on the Oldham side. Rovers take on York Knights in the final on June 7.
North Wales Crusaders are now firmly on top of the League 1 table following their 74-0 win over Newcastle Thunder in the only match in that competition last weekend. Ant Walker and Paddy Jones both came off the bench for Crusaders, with George Birch in the Newcastle side.
In the Men’s Super League academy, Jake Nottingham, Junior Westwood, who went over for two tries, and Isaac Holdsworth were in the Warrington Wolves side that overcame Robbie Brook‘s Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. Sam Dickenson scored a try for Wigan Warriors side as they hammered Leigh Leopards 80-0, whilst Oliver Garmston also went over for a try for St Helens in their win against Hull FC. Sam Grice was in the Castleford Tigers side that narrowly lost to Huddersfield Giants, whilst Freddie Hunkin played for Bradford Bulls in their home defeat to Hull Kingston Rovers.
Harry Hayes was in action in the NRL as Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs narrowly edged out Sydney Roosters.
There will be no Welsh participation in the Wheelchair Challenge Cup final this year after Jodie Boyd-Ward‘s Leeds Rhinos lost at home to London Roosters in the semi-final. They face Halifax Panthers in the final next month.
In the Championship West, Hereford Harriers hosted Rochdale Hornets, after a tense first half which saw the Harriers take a slight lead, the influence of their Welsh internationals shone as they came home with a 44-28 victory. Two tries from Lee Sargent and a solitary try and seven conversions from Gary Preece sealed the victory. Also in the Championship, Brogan Evans‘ Salford Red Devils side lost to Widnes Vikings in a match refereed by Welsh international Harry Jones, who will be second referee for Ireland v Scotland in the Celtic Cup in Cardiff this Saturday.
