Ian Golden reviews the latest action from our Welsh internationals and hopefuls as the regular seasons draw to a close.
London Broncos moved a step closer to promotion to Women’s Super League with a 28-8 win at Cardiff Demons in the Women’s Championship South Final. Kathryn Salter kicked two goals for London, with Emily Hughes and Chloe Allcorn also starring. They now face English opposition on September 29. Brittony Price and Lora Roberts were the try scorers for Cardiff. Welsh international squad members also in action for the Demons were Leanne Burnell, Seren Gough-Walters, Meg Whittaker, Rhi Parker, Sara Jones, Jasmine Gibbons, Ffion Jenkins, Bridget Jones, Charlie Mundy, Lauren Aitken, Lucia Davies, Amy Price and Hannah Jones.
Should London reach the final play-off match, they’ll face Featherstone Rovers, who are confirmed as the bottom side in Super League. Ashlea Prescott was in the Rovers side this week as they lost at Leeds Rhinos. Gracie Hobbs played for Huddersfield Giants in their defeat at Barrow Raiders, whilst Carys Marsh was in the Wigan Warriors side in their narrow home defeat to York Valkyrie.
In the men’s Super League, Gil Dudson helped Salford Red Devils to a good home win against Catalans Dragons, to keep his side in the play-off hunt, whilst in the NRL, Bradman Best and Tyson Frizell‘s Newcastle Knights are already there following their win over Dolphins last weekend. Sam Hughes and Harry Hayes are also going be in the finals with Canterbury Bankstown-Bulldogs, but they lost at home to North Queensland Cowboys last weekend.
In the Championship, Rhys Williams ran in a try for Swinton Lions, helping them to cause the shock of the day. Gavin Bennion and Ant Walker were also in the side as they easily beat Featherston Rovers 28-8 at home.
Bailey Antrobus helped York Knights’ to a 12-6 win at Widnes Vikings. Mike Butt scored Widnes’ only try with Rhodri Lloyd and Matty Fozard also in action for the home side.
The battle of the twins didn’t happen with Connor Davies injured for Halifax. He watched from the stand as his side beat Curtis Davies‘ Dewsbury Rams.
Huw Worthington was one of just two subs named for Whitehaven as they went down at Wakefield Trinity. Will Evans started the match for Haven. Elliot Kear came off the bench for Batley Bulldogs in their home defeat to Doncaster.
There were matches in the WRL Wheelchair Invitational League in Wrexham on Sunday where The Argonauts sealed a 100 percent record in the regular season with wins over North Wales Crusaders and Crusaders Celts. Richard Carver starred in both matches for Argonauts, who only overcame North Wales thanks to a try with two minutes to go.
In the local derby, North Wales Crusaders overcame Crusaders Celts 62-32. Matthew Turner helped his side to the win, scoring two goals, but his father, the Welsh international Martin Turner, scored a try and three goals for the Celts. Lucie Roberts was the only other person on the scoresheet for Celts, she went over for a hat-trick of tries. Jess Booth was in action for North Wales, as was former Wales captain Stuart Williams who scored a hat-trick of tries with Mason Baker kicking two goals.
Full details of all three games on the respective match links at the https://wrl.wales/wheelchair-league page.
There are two rounds left in the season, with North Wales Crusaders, Cardiff Blue Dragons and Hereford Harriers set to face each other twice, in Treforest on September 22 and Leominster on September 29, the latter a postponement from earlier in the year due to Hereford’s participation in the RFL Wheelchair Challenge Cup Quarter Finals. North Wales need just one win to finish in second place.
