Wales Wheelchair A, playing their first ever match, stormed to a big 86-6 win over their UK Armed Forces counterparts, in a 60-minute match ahead of the main game between the two outfits.
Lucie Roberts gave Wales the perfect start, scoring in the corner after just 30 seconds. Gary Preece converted before adding the second and converting well again from touch.
It was soon 18-0, the third try coming from Lee Sargent in the opposite corner with Preece again converting well. Jess Booth quickly followed him over with Preece again converting.
Roberts scored her second on 17 minutes. Jamie Reynolds converted this one, before scoring a try of him own, going in under the sticks to make it easy for Martin Turner to convert.
The Forces scored a try back just before half-time when Karl Shepherd stormed over the line, knocking down the posts in the process, before converting his own try.
But there was still time for debutant Gareth Ramsey to go over for Wales’ seventh try of the match. Turner couldn’t land the kick but Wales went into the break 40-6 up.
Wales were even more lethal in the second half. Turner scored the first two tries, converting both himself.
Jason Reynolds scored Wales’ tenth try of the match on 42 minutes, before Roberts completed her hat-trick. Turner converted the second of these tries to put the score onto 62-6.
Ten minutes to go, and Wales still couldn’t stop scoring. Jason Reynolds scored two quick tries to complete his hat-trick. Turner had two touch touchline conversion attempts and brilliantly kicked both to put the score on to 74-6.
There was still time for two more converted tries. Booth added their second and Jason Reynolds his fourth, with Turner landing the goals to complete the dominant win.
Wales A: 12. Gary Preece (Midlands Hurricanes, capt), 4. Jess Booth (Cardiff Blue Dragons/Chester Gladiators), 3. Lee Sargent (Cardiff Blue Dragons/Midlands Hurricanes), 13. Jason Reynolds (South Wales Jets/Midlands Hurricanes), 6. Lucie Roberts (North Wales Crusaders). Subs: 14. Harry Mitchell-Jones (North Wales Crusaders), 2. Jamie Reynolds (South Wales Jets/Midlands Hurricanes), 1. Libbie Sargent (Cardiff Blue Dragons/Midlands Hurricanes), 9. Gareth Ramsey (Sheffield Eagles), 7. Martin Turner (North Wales Crusaders).
UK Armed Forces A: 1. Ben Dunwell (Wakefield Trinity), 4. Ash Lockwood (Castleford Tigers, capt), 8. Stef Proietti (Castleford Tigers), 3. Ben Wilson (Sheffield Eagles), 5. Lee Halliday (Castleford Tigers). Subs: 1. Karl Shepherd (Hull FC), 11. Justin Wells (Castleford Tigers), 6. Darren Walker (Bradford Bulls).
