2021 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup - Week 2

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

England v Spain

England showed why they'll be a forced to be reckoned with in the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup with a convincing victory over Spain by 104-12 at the Copper Box.

It was a convincing start for the England side when they were able to cross within the first minute of play. Joe Brown had room to move down the left to cross for the first try. Spain were able to hit back almost immediately when Theo Gonzalez got the ball to the line.

It was try for try in the opening ten minutes of play. England were able to answer back as Brown crossed for his second try to evade the defence to cross. This try was immediately answered back by the Spaniards as Raphael Monedero was able to finish off a set play down the right corner but that would be the end of their scoring in the first half.

England ran riot in the final 28 minutes of the first half crossing for seven tries. The first came in the twelfth minute when James Simpson was on the end of a shifting movement and England were starting to warm into this contest. Two minutes later, Wayne Boardman finished off a lovely break to extend the margin.

After a brief defensive resistance, Robert Hawkins crossed for the first of his quick fire hattrick when he showed his pace down the left hand touch-line. Hawkins would cross for two further tries in addition to Boardman grabbing his second and England led 50-10 at half-time.

Straight after the break, England showed their relentless touch when Declan Roberts crossed for two tries in the space of six minutes when he blitzed his way through the defence on both occasions to cross for the Poms. Lewis King was able to add to England's tally in the forty-ninth minute and it was an imposing score.

Gonzalez added a penalty goal to try and build some possession, but poor handling came back to bite when Joe Coyd crossed for a double within five minutes to make the margin 80-12. Five minutes later, Adam Rigby was able to fool the Spanish defence to stroll over to score. Hawkins was able to cross for number four inside the final ten minutes finishing off the best movement of the tournament. Roberts sealed his hattrick taking a poor Spain pass to cross for England, off the next set, they brought up the century crossed for number five.

England 104 (Robert Hawkins 5, Declan Roberts 3, Jack Brown 2, Wayne Boardman 2, Joe Coyd 2, James Simpson, Tom Halliwell, Adam King, Lewis Rigby; Nathan Collins 7, Declan Roberts 6, Wayne Boardman 3 goals) def Spain 12 (Theo Gonzalez, Raphael Monedero tries; Theo Gonzalez 2 goals)

Australia v Ireland

Australia has bounced back following their opening round loss to England with a comprehensive 76-18 victory over Ireland at the Copper Box.

The Wheelaroos had a point to prove and critical for and against points to catch up on as they crossed for three tries in the opening fifteen minutes of this one. The scoring began in the fifth minute when their lone scorer against England Diab Karim crossed for the first try. This was added three minutes later when Adam Tannock crossed off a well-worked set play. The opening frenzy was completed when Bayley McKenna crossed for the first of his two tries.

Ireland were allowed in the contest and crossed for two quick tries in the space of two minutes. Phil Roberts crossed first in the nineteenth minute of play. This was quickly followed by the first of James McCarthy's two tries and all of a sudden, it was game on at the Copper Box.

But, the game was blown wide open in a dynamic display of wheelchair rugby league. Australia were able to cross for four tries in the space of the last 15 minutes of the first half, to turn an 18-12 advantage into a 42-12 half-time lead.

Brad Grove had a quick fire double within seven minutes showcasing his agility with great individual play on both scoring plays. McKenna crossed for his second when he ran through a yawning gap before Peter Arbuckle crossed the line to place Australia's authority on this fixture.

Australia showed no mercy in the second half, crossing for six second half tries. It began when James Hill showed his speed by getting on the outside of some would-be Ireland defence to score. Grove crossed for his hattrick just before the hour mark before Liam Luff crossed for a quick fire double to put the margin out to 64-12.

Ireland did get one back when McCarthy completed his double, but it was unfortunately consolation. McKenna added another try to his personal haul of 34 points. Karim crossed for his second in the final few minutes of play to seal a comprehensive victory.

Australia 76 (Brad Grove 3, Bayley McKenna 3, Diab Karim 2, Liam Luff 2, Adam Tannock, Peter Arbuckle, James Hill tries; Bayley McKenna 10, Diab Karim 2 goals) def Ireland 18 (James McCarthy 2, Phil Roberts tries; Peter Johnston Jr 3 goals)

France v Scotland

France have continued their domination of the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup with an 80-15 victory over Scotland in Sheffield.

The French put the entire World Cup on notice with their ruthless display against Wales in their opening pool match and the signs were ominous early for the Scots. Nicolas Clausells was able to cross in the first minute of play.

Clausells was in all of the early action, when he crossed for his second just five minutes later. Scotland were able to stem the tide when Callum Young crossed, but that try was quickly answered back by France when Guillaume Mautz crossed.

It was one way traffic for the rest of the first half when Yann Verdi strolled through. Off the next set, Arno Vargas fooled the defence to stroll his way to the line. Scotland's errors meant that the tiny chance that they had of securing a ‘Cup-set' were dwindling by the minute.

France crossed for four further tries in the first half (within a fifteen minute period). Mostefa Abassi crossed when he won the race to an early tackle kick. Florian Guttadoro was next to hit the score sheet three minutes later going through a yawning gap to score. Clausells crossed for a further two tries, extending his personal tally to four in the first half as France got out to a 50-6 half-time lead.

The score-board attendant was working over-time when Mautz began the second half just how the first ended, as he crossed for his second try. Scotland did knock over a field goal when Dan Grant put one over from short range. France followed up with three tries in the space of six minutes when Julien Penella crossed for his first, as well as Verdi and Abassi completing their doubles.

Scotland were able to stop the tide with a consolation try to Mike Mellon, before Vargas completed his double in the final twenty minutes. The Scots claimed a moral victory when Grant crossed for the last try of the contest in the 65 point defeat. France are comfortably through to the semi-finals, but who'll join them is definitely still a three horse race. Although Scotland will need results to go their way if they want to qualify.

France 80 (Nicolas Clausells 4, Guillaume Mautz 2, Yann Verdi 2, Arno Vargas 2, Mostefa Abassi 2, Florain Guttadoro, Julien Penella tries; Nicolas Clausells 7, Thomas Duhalde 5 goals) def Scotland 15 (Callum Young, Mike Mellon, Dan Grant tries; Dan Grant 1 goal; Dan Grant 1 field goal)

Wales v USA

Just three days after being defeated by 148 points. Wales have completed a strong World Cup revival to defeat the United States of America by 50-32 in a classic Wheelchair Rugby League game in Sheffield.

The signs weren't positive early for the Welsh Dragons when the USA crossed for two early tries in the opening ten minutes of play. Jeffrey Townsend and Mackenzie Johnson both continuing from where they left off against Scotland adding early four pointers off the back of clever early kicks.

Wales did hit back almost immediately when Gary Preece crossed in the twelfth minute. This try was answered back when Townsend crossed for his second try and the USA led 16-6. The lead was evaporated in one six minute spell.

The Welsh side crossed for three tries in the space of six minutes to stun the Americans. Stuart Williams crossed for the first of his two tries when he went straight through some sloppy defence. He had his second mere moments later in almost identical fashion.

The USA were imploding with another lapse in concentration seeing Stephen Halsey cross. Although they were able to answer back with a quick try to Matthew Wooloff, Williams completed his hattrick in the last set of the first half to give Wales a 30-22 lead at the break.

Wales began the second half in fine style when Harry Jones crossed to extend the margin. Townsend answered back for the USA to complete his hattrick before the Welsh side cross for three quick tries through Gary Preece, Andrew Higgins and Scott Trigg-Turner to put the game out of reach and bring up the half-century. The USA did grab a consolation try when Townsend crossed for number four.

The equation to try and make the semis is this. The USA have an up-hill battle against France, but they do hold the for and against advantage over Wales. Wales will have the better chance of improving that should they brush past Scotland in their final pool match.

Wales 50 (Stuart Williams 3, Gary Preece 2, Stephen Halsey, Harry Jones, Andrew Higgins, Scott Trigg-Turner tries; Stephen Halsey 5, Andrew Higgins 2 goals) def USA 32 (Jeffrey Townsend 4, Mackenzie Johnson, Matthew Wooloff tries; William Johnstone 3, Micah Stewart 1 goals)