Match Report

The first ever WRL Wheelchair Invitational League Final was between the two invited English sides, both of whom fielded Welsh international players, with Argonauts beating Hereford Harriers 50-26 in a thrilling encounter.

Lead referee was Stephen Halsey, who went straight from scoring 34 points in the first game of the day to being on the side for this battle of the two best Wheelchair sides in the south, playing to extend their season in this successfully organised league.

Jacob Robinson got the first two tries with Wales international Gary Preece converting the second of them to give Hereford a 10-0 lead.

But Argonauts were soon level. Ireland captain Pete Johnston with a quick brace, converting the second and with 20 minutes gone, it was 10-10.

Fred Nye, also an Irish international gave Argonauts the lead soon after that, with Johnston adding the extras.

Hereford hit back again. Robinson tumbled over the line as he leapt on a loose ball. Preece converted again.

The two sides continued to swap tries. First, Nye in the corner for Argonauts with Johnston converting, then Preece for Hereford, who despite not being able to land the kick, ended the tournament as top points scorer.

A Keiron Hammond try, with a Johnston conversion was the last action of the first half, with Argonauts going in 28-20 up.

Argonauts struck first in the second half, Rick Rodgers scoring in the corner, converting his own try, and they extended their lead to 38-20 in the 55th minute when Nye completed his hat-trick to cement his position as the league’s leading try scorer for the season.

Hereford weren’t finished yet. On the hour mark, Alan Sheriff scored in the corner with Preece converting.

An unconverted Rodgers try on 68 minutes extended Argonauts’ lead to 16-points. Johnston missed a penalty as the Kent-side looked for a relaxing three-try cushion, but he did get a try to cement the victory with Hammond’s second try bringing up the half-century.