2021 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup - Week 1

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AJ Lucantonio reviews the first week of games in the Wheelchair tournament.

Spain v Ireland

Thursday, Copper Box Arena, London

Spain and Ireland officially had the honours of kicking off the fourth Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup at the Copper Box Arena this morning (AEDT time).  Spain were able to run out 55-32 winners against the Irish in a 15 try encounter. Ireland performed admirably, considering they were last minute additions for Norway who withdrew due to financial complications.

It was the Irish side who crossed after just two minutes when Phil Roberts was able to beat the Spanish cover defence to cross for the first try of the tournament. Spain hit back almost immediately when Yannick Martin was able to showcase his speed to stroll across the line and with the conversion, Spain were in front early. This lead was extended just minutes later when Spain crossed for two quick tries, the first came from captain Joel Lacombe and was soon followed up by David Berty for the first of his hattrick.

After a brief Irish resistance, the scorer was troubled again in the twenty-second minute of play when man of the match Theo Gonzalez weaved his way passed to cross. Berty had his second just three minutes later and Spain had an imposing 30-4 lead. Peter Johnston Jr was able to restore some score-board credibility for the Irish when he crossed for the first of four tries just on half-time.

Berty sealed his hattrick just after the break when he beat the cover to cross out wide. Johnson Jr sealed his hattrick in quick time, scoring two in the space of four minutes to go with his earlier first half try off the back of some poor clean up work in the Spanish in-goal. Any hope of a comeback was short-lived when Raphael Monedero crossed in the corner. Three minutes later, Martin completed his double and victory was out of reach for Ireland. Gonzalez added a further try and a field goal to his tally while Ireland were able to nab two consolation tries to James McCarthy, while Johnson Jr completed his four try haul in style at the end of the game.

Spain 55 (David Berty 3, Yannick Martin 2, Theo Gonzalez 2, Joel Lacombe, Raphael Monedero tries; Theo Gonzalez 8, Wilfrid Seron 1 goals; Theo Gonzalez 1 field goal) def Ireland 32 (Peter Johnston Jr 4, Phil Roberts, James McCarthy tries; Peter Johnston Jr 4 goals)

England v Australia

Thursday, Copper Box Arena, London

The historic rivalry between Australia and England went to new lengths as the two sporting nations went head to head in the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup at the Copper Box Arena. England were able to run out convincing 30 point winners over the Australians.

After a closely contested opening, it was Australia who cracked first with a perfect kick chase in the left corner from Diab Karim to hand Australia an early lead. England would bomb several scoring chances, but they made one chance stick in the nineteenth minute when Joe Coyd sliced through the Wheelaroos defence to score the first points for the hosts. England was running riot when Coyd crossed for a double in the 22nd minute and Jack Brown crossing the line just three minutes later to hand England a 14-6 lead. 

Errors were proving costly for Australia, off the back of these mistakes, England wasted no time and off the back of Sebastian Bechara's charge down the line, Nathan Collins crashed over the line and the hosts went further ahead with a 20-6 lead. Brown was everywhere and he crossed just before the break to give England an 20 point lead at the change of ends.

The match was put beyond doubt minutes after the resumption when Lewis King crossed. Even when the game looked all but over Australia continued to show up in defence, denying England multiple chances to extend the score even further. But the hosts sealed an impressive home debut in the 70th minute with a Collins double bringing the score to 38-6. Fighting until the end, the Aussies finished the match with pride, when Bayley McKenna nail a penalty goal on full time to round out the points 38-8.

England 38 (Joe Coyd 2, Jack Brown 2, Nathan Collins 2, Lewis King tries; Nathan Collins 4, Robert Hawkins 1 goals) def Australia 8 (Diab Karim try; Diab Karim 1, Bayley McKenna 1 goals)

France v Wales

Friday, EIS Sheffield

Two time champs France have made a strong statement at the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup putting Wales to the slaughter in Sheffield to the tune of 158-6.

It was an ominous start for the two time reigning champs as they were able to cross for three tries in the opening five minutes making their intentions known early. Lionel Alazard was able to cross for the first try after just forty seconds of play. Two minutes later, Alazard was in for number two when he won the race to a clever grubber kick. Less than sixty seconds later, they were in for number three when Gilles Clausells was able to weave his way past the Welsh defence and it was 18-0.

After a brief period in possession, Wales were able to stem the bleeding. But it wasn't long before the French bagged their fourth when Jeremy Bourson got a room service bounce and France were out to a 24-0 lead. Alazard had his hattrick two minutes later finishing off a lovely set move. Florian Guttadoro joined the scorers list two minutes later when he broke the line to score untouched and it was turning into a procession for the French.

Off the next set, Bourson crossed for his second outpacing the Welsh down the left hand side and it was 42-0 inside 20 minutes. Julien Penella added his name to the scoreboard when he showed some silky skills to evade defenders to touch down. The fifty point mark was brought up when Alazard crossed for number four.

Bourson grabbed his hattrick finishing off a set move and it was 60-0 inside 23 minutes. Alazard grabbed number five when he paced down the right to cross. Wales were able to cross for their first try after 26 minutes when Harry Jones was able to beat the French defence to the line to reduce the gap to 60.

The Welsh renaissance was short lived, when Bourson crossed for number four which was quickly followed by a try to Mostefa Abassi. France hit 80 just before half-time when Penella crossed for number two beating the Welsh defence to the line. Arno Vargas sent the score-board ticking past 90 just prior to half-time before Jonathan Hivernat made the margin 90 points at the break crossing for a try of his own.

France brought up the century straight after half-time when Abassi crossed for number two straight after the break. Bourson also grabbed his collection of five tries when he rambled his way across the line. Penella grabbed his hattrick finishing off a great movement down the right. Two minutes later, Alazard crossed for number six when he outpaced the defence, off the next set it was Clausells who did the same thing to extend the margin to 118 points. Abassi finished off his hattrick off the ensuing set.

Although the score threatened to get bigger, the Welsh side was able to hang on in an impressive 11 minute defensive stint. But eventually, the French side broke through for their twenty-third try of the contest when Hivernat crossed for his second, which was soon followed by Abassi crossing for his fourth moments later. Vargas collected his second when he miraculously put the ball down and stayed in play. Guttadoro collected his second when he finished off a set play in the corner extending the margin. Abassi crossed for number five and six in quick succession to put beyond 150 points.

France 154 (Lionel Alazard 6, Jeremy Bourson 5, Gilles Clausells 2, Julien Penella 3, Mostefa Abassi 5, Florian Guttadoro 2, Arno Vargas 2, Jonathan Hivernat 2 tries; Lionel Alazard 13, Julien Penella 6, Florian Guttadoro 4 goals) def Wales 6 (Harry Jones try; Stephen Halsey 1 goal)

Scotland v USA

Friday, EIS Sheffield

The United States have taken the spoils in their opening clash of the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup with a 21 point victory over Scotland.

The Americans had a point to prove from the opening whistle and began their scoring in the opening minute of play. After being denied mere seconds earlier, Mackenzie Johnson crashed over to cross for the Americans first try.

Two minutes later, Johnson crossed for number two sprinting down the left sideline. Scotland were able to grab the next three tries when Callum Young crossed for a hattrick in the space of eleven minutes.

Three minutes later, Matthew Wooloff crossed to restore the USA's lead, but it would be short-lived. Dan Grant charged over the line to put the Scots in front. This was extended when Connor Blackmore crossed out-wide but that would be the last of the Scotland tries in the first half.

Johnson and Wooloff crossed to complete their doubles when they were able to get on the outside of the Scotland defence and the Americans were running riot. A quick fire double to Jesse Lind put the USA up 38-24 at half-time.

Scotland were quick to answer back after half-time when quick hands saw John Willans cross untouched in the left corner. The USA weren't allowing their well earnt half-time lead to be eradicated quickly when Johnson completed his hattrick in the forty-fifth minute of play. Two minutes later, Jeffrey Townsend began the scoring of the first of his four second half tries.

Scotland countered this first try of Townsend's when Grant crossed for his second try and added a field goal to reduce the margin to just 11 points. But that was as close as they got in the final analysis.

Townsend completed his hattrick within the next ten minutes of play to put the game out of reach for the Scots. Young was able to cross for his fourth try of the contest to provide some respect on the scoreboard. But Townsend was able to counter when he crossed for his fourth to secure the 62-41 verdict.

USA 62 (Mackenzie Johnson 4, Jeffrey Townsend 4, Jesse Lind 2, Matthew Wooloff 2 tries; William Johnstone 5, Micah Stewart 1, Jeffrey Townsend 1 goals) def Scotland 41 (Callum Young 4, Dan Grant 2, Connor Blackmore, John Willans tries; John Willans 4 goals; Dan Grant 1 field goal)