Ian Golden rounds up last weekend’s elite action for Wales internationals and hopefuls…
Wales Women’s captain Bethan Dainton is returning to Wembley Stadium. A year after her Leeds Rhinos’ side lost to St Helens, she will have a chance to put things right after they beat Wigan Warriors last weekend in the Women’s Challenge Cup semi-final.
There will also be Welsh representation in the Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final after Wigan Warriors beat Leeds Rhinos in that semi-final. Martin Lane was on the victorious Wigan side, whilst two tries for Jodie Boyd-Ward wasn’t enough for Leeds. The other semi-final saw Catalans Dragons easily through at the expense of Scott Trigg-Turner‘s London Roosters.
In the WRL Wheelchair Development League, three games took place at Crook Log Sports Centre in London. Richard Carver scored a try for Argonauts in their win over Hereford Harriers and another in their victory over North Wales Crusaders. Hereford fielded Wales head coach Alan Caron, who scored a hat-trick of tries against the Crusaders in their other game. However it wasn’t enough for Hereford as the Crusaders won 50-42 with Stephen Halsey scoring a try. Halsey kicked three goals in each of the Crusaders’ games that day, whilst Jess Booth scored one try in each.
In the men’s game, it was a good Magic Round for Bradman Best as he helped Newcastle Knights to a win over Gold Coast Titans.
Back in England, Widnes Vikings and Whitehaven fought out a 28-28 draw. Mike Butt and Matty Fozard scored tries for Widnes, with Rhodri Lloyd also in their line-up. Will Evans was playing for Whitehaven. Elsewhere in the Championship, a Rhys Williams try wasn’t enough for Swinton Lions to win at Wakefield Trinity, whilst Curtis Davies‘ Dewsbury Rams lost at home to Featherstone Rovers.
In League 1, following the week’s break, Billy Walkley continued where he left off, as he scored two tries to help Keighley Cougars beat North Wales Crusaders, for whom Ben Evans played from the bench. Harry Boots was Cornwall’s star man for Cornwall, but they lost at home to Oldham. George Birch was in the Newcastle Thunder side that lost at Midlands Hurricanes.
