Ian Golden and Harry Jones report on the last week’s worth of action for our Welsh internationals and hopefuls…
Mike Butt scored a try for Widnes Vikings in the RFL Championship with Rhodri Lloyd and Matty Fozard also playing in their win over Bradford Bulls. Connor Davies‘ Halifax Panthers side won away from home at Batley Bulldogs, who fielded Elliot Kear. Will Evans scored a try for Whitehaven, but couldn’t prevent defeat at Sheffield Eagles. Max Clarke travelled with Barrow Raiders to Doncaster, but they lost a thriller 37-30. Owen Restall was with the Dewsbury Rams side who lost in France to Toulouse Olympique XIII. Caleb Aekins‘ Featherstone Rovers side lost the local derby at Wakefield Trinity. Rhys Williams‘ Swinton Lions fell at York Knights.
In League 1, in the longest away trip in British rugby league, Matt Ross was one of the players who did the near 900 mile round trip to help Cornwall win at Newcastle Thunder. Billy Walkley helped Keighley Cougars to win over Midlands Hurricanes. Jude Ferreira‘s Hunslet side lost at home to Workington Town.
Sam Hughes and Harry Hayes were both in action for Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs again in the NRL as they helped them to a big away win at Brisbane Broncos.
Cardiff Demons performed admirably in the finals of the Super League Women’s Nines last Sunday at Hull KR. The Demons initially lost 23-0 to Leeds Rhinos in the first match of their three-team group, with Bethan Dainton kicking a goal for Leeds. They then took on St Helens who had also lost to Leeds, so this game was to decide the second semi-finalist. Cardiff led 8-0 at half-time through two Zoe Heeley tries and ended up winning 17-8, thanks to two tries from Leanne Burnell, one under the sticks for a bonus point with Rhi Parker converting. The other Welsh internationals involved for Cardiff were Sara Jones, Jasmine Gibbons, Meg Whittaker, Ffion Jenkins, Katie Carr, Lucia Davies and Ffion Jones.
In the other group of three, Gracie Hobbs was in action for Huddersfield Giants, Carys Marsh for Wigan Warriors and Agnes Wood for York Valkyrie. The big surprise of the tournament was York, along with Saints, going out in the first round, but perhaps they both had one eye on their Super League clash yesterday, that Saints won. Wood, along with Georgia Taylor, played for York in that game.
Back to the Nines on Sunday, and in the semi-finals, Wigan beat Cardiff and Leeds beat Huddersfield, before the Warriors took the trophy, beating holders Leeds 21-0 for the club’s first women’s honours since 2018.
Wigan’s Wheelchair side earned only their second win of the season with a 48-34 home victory over London Roosters. Mark Williams featured off the bench for Wigan and Scott Trigg-Turner scored a try for London. Jodie Boyd-Ward captained her Leeds Rhinos team against Hull FC and scored a try, as Leeds Rhinos remain top of the Wheelchair Super League, maintaining their one hundred per cent record in the competition.
In the Wheelchair Championship West, league leaders Hereford Harriers made the trip up to Rochdale which saw internationals, Lee Sargent and Gary Preece feature in their side’s 34-14 victory with the latter managing four conversions, three tries and two drop goals, whilst Sargent managed a solitary try.
Over in Cheshire, North Wales Crusaders looked to regather their winning form following a recent poor run, and that they did with a convincing 76-30 victory against Warrington Wolves. The Crusaders fielded two of Wales’ Celtic Cup squad in Jess Booth and Martin Turner with the latter managing a try, whilst former captains Stuart Williams scored four tries and Harry Jones a solitary. Stephen Halsey scored one try and 12 conversions. The quality of the Crusaders’ youth talent was key as Matthew Turner scored two tries with Welsh heritage player, Jakub Wasieczko crossing for four.