In the first of our monthly “World Cup Watch” articles, we look at how our hopefuls in the women’s and wheelchair games are performing in their respective competitions, with the Challenge Cup primarily making the headlines. Picture – Captured by Kate.
The Women’s Challenge Cup has reached the end of the group stages, with our own Cardiff Demons side qualifying for the quarter-finals for the fourth year in a row.
A number of women’s internationals played for Cardiff Demons in their cup matches, highlighted with a 24-12 win over Featherstone Rovers to put them into the knockout stages of the competition. Leanne Burnell scored her 49th Demons try in the Rovers win, whilst Zoe Heeley, who qualifies for Wales before this summer’s matches, scored a brace and Frances Layton got one. Sara Jones went over the line against Wigan. Olivia Williams, Rhi Parker, Amberley Ruck, Jasmine Gibbons, Ffion Jenkins, Charley Mundy, Katie Carr, Bridget Jones, Lucia Davies, Meg Whittaker and Amy Price, were all also in action for Cardiff.
Huddersfield Giants are another side through the quarter-finals, with Gracie Hobbs and Georgia Cussons playing in both of their group matches, a defeat to St Helens, and a win over Catalans Dragons. Starring in Saints’ win over Catalans in the remaining group game was Dani McGifford who scored a hat-trick of tries. London Broncos qualified for the quarter-finals after beating Leigh Leopards 20-6, with Kathryn Salter, Emily Hughes and Jade Mullen all starring, whilst Agnes Wood was in action for York Valkyrie in this win over Barrow Raiders.
Our two World Cup captains have had excellent starts to the season. Women’s skipper Bethan Dainton starred for Wigan Warriors women after her transfer from Leeds Rhinos, playing alongside Carys Marsh, in their side’s big wins over Featherstone Rovers and Cardiff Demons, scoring a try in each game.
Our wheelchair captain, Jodie Boyd-Ward has scored nine tries in three matches, all of which were large wins for her Leeds Rhinos side. It started with a 182-10 win over York Knights in the Wheelchair Challenge Cup, a record score for the competition. In Wheelchair RL, scores are generally double that of the running game. She scored two tries in that match. Leeds followed that up with two wins over Edinburgh Giants, 116-12 in Super League and 96-6 in the Challenge Cup. Boyd-Ward scored four tries in the first match and three in the second.
Wales wheelchair vice-captain Stuart Williams has been a regular for Edinburgh this season, helping them to a Challenge Cup win over Rochdale Hornets, before playing in the two defeats to Leeds.
Sid Ramsey helped Sheffield Eagles to a Challenge Cup win over Midlands Hurricanes, scoring one try in the process, but his side has since suffered defeats to Wigan Warriors in Super League, where he scored a try, and London Roosters in the Challenge Cup.
Lee Sargent, Libbie Sargent and Wales head coach Alan Caron, played in both the Hurricanes’ first two matches, the second being a loss to North Wales Crusaders where Caron himself scored a try. Gary Preece was in action against Sheffield.
Mark Williams and Brogan Evans contributed to Wigan’s Challenge Cup win over North Wales Crusaders, but neither have featured in the Super League first team side as yet this year, playing in the reserves line-up. Against the Warriors, Matthew Turner scored a try and two goals for Crusaders before leaving the club to join Wigan, Lucie Roberts went over once, with Harry Mitchell-Jones hitting over a field goal. Against Midlands, Jonathan Gill scored a hat-trick of tries, as did Martin Turner, who also kicked eight goals.
