Ian Golden and Harry Jones report on the weekend’s action featuring Wales internationals and hopefuls. Pic: Ben Challis.
North Wales Crusaders’ men’s side had a hard-fought away win at Workington Town on the weekend, scoring a try in the 76th minute to secure a 28-24 victory. Ben Evans scored their first try of the day at a point where they were 12-0 down. Also in League 1, Billy Walkley was on the scoresheet again for Keighley Cougars as they easily beat Newcastle Thunder. He’s now on 17 tries for the season, the highest scoring Welsh player in the men’s professional league and second in League 1. Craig Kopczak was in the Oldham side that beat Sam Bowring‘s Midlands Hurricanes. Matt Ross and Jake Lloyd played for Cornwall who had a good revival at Rochdale Hornets, coming back from 46-6 down to only lost 46-32.
In the RFL Championship, Max Clarke scored a try with two minutes to go for Barrow Raiders to help them to a 24-all draw with Bradford Bulls. Also in Cumbria, Mike Butt and Matty Fozard were in the Widnes Vikings side that won away at Whitehaven, where Will Evans started and Huw Worthington came off the bench. Halifax Panthers had a much needed home win against York Knights, with Connor Davies in the side, whilst Caleb Aekins was in the Featherstone Rovers side that beat Batley Bulldogs at home. Rhys Williams scored a try and Gavin Bennion also played for Swinton Lions, but they lost at home to Toulouse Olympique XIII. Owen Restall‘s Dewsbury Rams also lost at home, they were up against league leaders Wakefield Trinity.
Harry Hayes and Sam Hughes were in the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs NRL side again as the beat Canberra Raiders at home.
Bethan Dainton scored two tries for Leeds Rhinos in the Women’s Super League as they won away at Featherstone Rovers, who fielded Ashlea Prescott. Wigan Warriors, fresh from their Nines win, kept up the pace of Leeds with Carys Marsh in action in their win over Gracie Hobbs‘ Huddersfield Giants. Agnes Wood came off the bench from York Valkyrie as they won away at Warrington Wolves.
Cardiff Demons had their match cancelled in the Women’s Championship South, being awarded a 48-0 default win at Bedford Tigers which qualifies them for the Grand Final on September 7. London Broncos were in action and they beat Army RL in their final group game with Emily Hughes playing and Kathryn Salter kicking six goals. The same two sides meet again on August 18 to play-off to see who meets Cardiff in the South Final.
The WRL Wheelchair Invitational League continued on Saturday with four Welsh international players in action. Richard Carver played for Argonauts as they beat Torfaen Tigers and Cardiff Blue Dragons. Lee Sargent scored tries for Cardiff as they beat Torfaen that day with father Paul Sargent also in action. Alex Powell played for Torfaen.
On Sunday, North Wales Crusaders Wheelchair made the trip to Yorkshire to take on Halifax Panthers Reserves in a mid-season friendly. In a game that saw the Crusaders only take five players, three of whom being Wales internationals Stephen Halsey, Harry Jones and Martin Turner. The pedigree of these players was key as the Crusaders secured themselves a 64-24 victory with Turner putting in a player of the match shift by securing himself five tries and six conversions, Halsey crossed for four tries and Jones one.
