Ian Golden looks back at how our elite players fared last weekend. Pic: Colin Bradbury.
In League 1, Cornwall finally got their first home win of the season with Harry Boots scoring a try against Newcastle Thunder. Matt Ross also played for Cornwall with George Birch lining up for Newcastle. As one Wales hopeful in Midlands Hurricanes’ Sam Bowring made his comeback from injury, another in Billy Walkley, continued his good form with his 15th try of his debut first class season, keeping his position as League 1’s second highest try scorer this season. His Keighley Cougars side sneaked the win. Third highest try scorer Jude Ferreira got another for Hunslet as they won away at Workington Town. Ben Evans was also on the scoresheet, running over for a North Wales Crusaders try in the narrow 25-24 loss to Craig Kopczak‘s Oldham.
In the Championship, Rhys Williams helped Swinton Lions pull off the result of the week as his Swinton Lions side beat Featherstone Rovers 42-40 away from home. Caleb Aekins starred for Rovers. Widnes Vikings had an equally hard-fought away win as they beat York Knights 22-18. Matty Fozard and Mike Butt both went over for Widnes tries, with Rhodri Lloyd and Ant Walker also playing for Widnes. Chester Butler was in the Bradford Bulls side as they beat Barrow Raiders. Hugh Worthington came off the bench for Whitehaven in their dramatic 25-all draw at Doncaster. Meanwhile, Curtis Davies was also a used sub in Dewsbury Rams’ defeat at Wakefield Trinity. His twin Connor Davies also suffered defeat as Halifax Panthers lost at home to Toulouse Olympique XIII.
In the men’s Super League, Gil Dudson helped Salford Red Devils to a good home win over London Broncos. In the Women’s Super League, Georgia Taylor helped York Valkyrie beat Warrington Wolves, with Gracie Hobbs‘ Huddersfield Giants’ side overcoming Ashlea Precott’s Featherstone Rovers.
In Wheelchair Rugby League, some of the Celtic Cup squad got a run out before next week’s event. In the Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final, Mark Williams couldn’t bring the trophy home as Wigan Warriors lost to a much stronger Catalans Dragons side.
In the WRL Wheelchair Development League, the Welsh internationals starred. Hereford Harriers beat Crusaders Celts 58-30, largely thanks to the skills of Welsh international Gary Preece who scored five tries and kicked nine goals. Wales head coach Alan Caron scored once. Lucie Roberts got all of the Celts’ five tries with Martin Turner converting them all. After that, they beat Cardiff Blue Dragons, winning 50-16, with Preece continuing his good form, scoring two tries and kicking seven goals, Caron adding another try.
Finally, Crusaders faced Cardiff and they also put a large score on the capital side, winning 64-12. Roberts scored six tries in this game and Turner one. Harry Jones was also in action for the Celts in this game, scoring a try. All Cardiff’s points in the day came from Lee Sargent thanks to his hat-trick of tries in the first game, two of which he converted and his two tries and two goals in game two. It was a family affair for Cardiff, who for the first time fielded mother, father, daughter and son. Alana, Paul and Libbie Sargent also turning out.