In the fourth of our monthly “World Cup Watch” articles, we look at how our hopefuls in the women’s and wheelchair games performed over the last three weeks.
Our women’s side are preparing well, not only for the World Cup, but for the friendly match against Canada at The Gnoll on Sunday 19th July. You can buy tickets for this match at https://wrl.wales/tickets.
Cardiff Demons provide 12 of the players selected in the 23-person squad for this Sunday’s match, and the side are now on a seven-match winning streak, with the most recent victories coming away at Hull KR and Sheffield Eagles, with the same starting line-up in each game.
Zoe Heeley, who will hope to make her international debut on Sunday, scored once in each game, bringing her try count to 16 for the season. Frances Layton is now just a try behind on 15, following her brace against Hull KR and one try at Sheffield. She also kicked a goal at Rovers.
Amberley Ruck, Jasmine Gibbons, Sara Jones and Leanne Burnell also each scored a try in the 46-6 win at Rovers. Ruck kicked six goals against Rovers and two at Eagles. Seren Gough-Walters scored a try in the latter. Olivia Williams, Rhi Parker, Ffion Jenkins, Sioned Young and Katie Carr, were the other Welsh squad members involved, all of whom started each match.
Another potential debutant, Hollie Brussels, scored a try in Warrington Wolves’ 42-10 win over Hull KR, also playing in the narrow defeat at Swinton Lionesses.
London Broncos beat Sheffield Eagles and drew against Oulton Raidettes recently, with Kathryn Salter kicking two goals in each game, plus a try in the latter. Jade Mullen and Ffion Lewis were playing against Sheffield, and Emily Hughes was in action at Oulton.
In Super League, Dani McGifford helped St Helens to edge out Wigan Warriors 32-28. Bethan Dainton and Carys Marsh were both in action for Wigan in the loss to St Helens and also in the victory at home to Featherstone Rovers. Agnes Wood scored a try in York Valkyrie’s win at Barrow Raiders, also playing in the victory at Featherstone. Georgia Cussons played in Huddersfield Giants’ loss to Leeds Rhinos.
In the Wheelchair game, some of our players have been going try crazy. Stuart Williams scored 14 tries in three matches for Edinburgh Giants, including eight in a 74-30 win at Leeds. Previously, he’d gone over for one at home to Sheffield and a hat-trick against Bradford. Matthew Turner scored 11 tries for Wigan in a 108-18 win at Bradford, also turning out against London Roosters. His team-mate Mark Williams kicked three goals at Bradford in his first Super League appearance this season. Jodie Boyd-Ward, our wheelchair captain, scored a try in Leeds’ 150-4 win over Bradford Bulls, and another in the victory at Sheffield Eagles. She also played in the surprise defeat at home to Edinburgh Giants. Sid Ramsey played for Sheffield in that defeat and also scored a try in the loss to Edinburgh.
Midlands Hurricanes, led by our head coach Alan Caron, have been involved in three outstanding matches in the last three weeks, losing one and then winning two. Against Gravesend Dynamite, they turned up with only five players and lost 62-58. Then they beat Castleford Tigers 42-38 and Batley Bulldogs, 30-28, where they also travelled with just five players, four of them Welsh internationals. Caron scored one try against both Gravesend and Batley. Lee Sargent scored two tries against Castleford and one at Batley, with his sister Libbie Sargent scoring one at Batley. Andrew Higgins was in action against Castleford. He kicked five goals at Batley.
North Wales Crusaders also had two wins and a loss. Martin Turner scored four tries and kicked seven goals in the victory over Wakefield Trinity. He also contributed 11 goals and a try in the win at Batley, plus scored two tries and three conversions against Rochdale. Harry Mitchell-Jones scored a brace of tries against both Wakefield and Batley, whilst Jonathan Gill scored a hat-trick of tries and one goal against Wakefield. Both also played against Rochdale.
