Gwylio’r Cymry: Mai 19-23 2022


It was a big weekend for Wheelchair Rugby League in Wales, as North Wales Crusaders lifted the first ever Cwpan Sialans Cadair Olwyn, beating Torfaen Tigers 44-18. John Doyle got a hat trick of tries for the Crusaders and converted five of the eight tries scored, Gary Taylor was also on the scoresheet. Following this, these two side competed against Rochdale Hornets and Sheffield Eagles for the Peacock Cup, a tournament held annually in memory of young fan Thomas Jones, who died suddenly in 2018 two days after his third birthday. Following a round robin, North Wales beat Torfaen 22-10 in the Final. Welsh internationals Dafydd Price and Lee Sargent featured for Torfaen throughout the day, with Mason Baker, Harry Jones and Stuart Williams also playing for Crusaders.

On Saturday, North Wales Crusaders kicked off their hectic weekend with a convincing, 68-28 victory over local rivals, Warrington Wolves in the Betfred Super League after leading 24-6 at the break. Scott Trigg-Turner led the Crusaders in points, managing a personal tally of 40 through five tries and 10 conversions, Ricki Davies, making his first appearance since his hat-trick at the Celtic Cup, secured his first-ever Super League try in the first half. Harry Jones secured his first domestic try of the season, whilst Wales’ record try scorer, Stuart Williams scored four tries.

No fewer than 27 Welsh female players were in action in the women’s game this weekend. Cardiff Demons started their Women’s Super League South season with a 72-12 win at The Army. The side was one hundred per cent Welsh with 10 of the 13 starting players all going over for tries. They were Leanne Burnell, who also kicked eight goals, Eleri Michael, Lowri Norkett (three tries), Rosie Carr, Brittony Price (two tries), Sara Jones, Molly Reardon, Bryonie King, Charlie Mundy (two tries) and Joeann McGuire. Other already capped players to feature was Amberley Ruck, Ffion Jones, Rafiuke Taylor, Lauren Aitken and Stacey Wright. Uncapped players were Rhi Parker, Savannah Picton-Powell, Sophie Solari, Ffion Jenkins and Katie Carr. Hannah Williams was the lone Welsh player in the Army side.

The individual performance of the week came from London Broncos’ Emily Hughes who scored five tries in London Broncos’ massive 104-0 win over Oxford Cavaliers. Kathryn Salter also chipped in with two tries, with the uncapped Hari McCormack also starring. Elsewhere in Super League South, the uncapped Welsh trio of Rhiannon Laugharne, Lisa Newman and Ffion Griffiths were in the Bristol Golden Ferns side as they went down 64-18 at Bedford Tigers. In Super League Group 2 in the north, Keira McCosh was in the Warrington Wolves line-up as they beat Wakefield Trinity 86-0.

In the men’s Super League, Gil Dudson was in the Catalans Dragons side as they won 20-8 at Hull Kingston Rovers. They keep up the pressure on St Helens as they, with Morgan Knowles in the side, scraped home 12-10 at Warrington Wolves. In Super League Reserves, Jacob Lee and Lewis Hall featured for Salford Red Devils as they lost 32-16 at home to Bradford Bulls.

In the Championship, Craig Kopczak’s Featherstone Rovers prepared for their Wembley date against Leigh Centurions, by hammering Whitehaven 78-0. Leigh were 58-6 winners against Workington Town. Caleb Aekins featured for the winners, with Connor and Curtis Davies lining up for Town. Bailey Antrobus made his York City Knights debut, but they went down 40-24 at home to Halifax Panthers. Elsewhere, Ben Evans was in the Bradford Bulls side as they beat Newcastle Thunder 36-20. London Broncos, with Dalton Grant and Jude Ferreira in the side, lost 28-12 at Batley Bulldogs. Finally, in the Monday night game, Matty Fozard was in the defeated Widnes Vikings side at Sheffield Eagles as they lost 34-24.

In League 1, Mike Butt scored a try for Swinton Lions as they beat Cornwall 54-16. Rhodri Lloyd was also playing for Swinton, with Will Odgers in the Cornwall side. Cobi Green scored a try for Rochdale Hornets as they beat Doncaster 46-28. Gavin Bennion was also in the Hornets line-up. West Wales Raiders lost 50-12 at home to Hunslet, with former Raiders player Charlie Bodman in the Hunslet side. Former Wales squad member Jamie Murphy kicked two goals for Raiders and Joe Burke captained. Shane Lee, Dafydd Phillips, Ewan Badham and Harry Boots, all of whom have represented Wales at junior levels, were amongst the other Welsh players in the Raiders side. Finally, Sam Bowring was in the Midland Hurricanes side as they lost 29-18 at Keighley Cougars.

In the NRL, Tyson Frizell scored a try for Newcastle Knights, but they went down 36-12 at home to Brisbane Broncos. Bradman Best also featured for Knights. Finally, Josh Ralph featured for Mounties in the NSW Cup as they lost 26-12 at Newtown Jets.