RLWC21 round-up
- Eight Warriors featured across the latest Rugby League World Cup games.
- John Bateman and Mike Cooper featured in England Men’s Semi Final over the weekend.
- Lauréane Biville, Adam Rigby, Declan Roberts, Phil Roberts, Mark Williams and Matt Wooloff were also all in action.
Wheelchair Group Stages
Wales 50-32 USA
Mark Williams faced Matt Wooloff last Monday evening in a thrilling encounter between Wales and USA. Williams was involved in some of Wales’ efforts, as Matt Wooloff crossed for another Rugby League World Cup try.
England 121-0 Ireland
Adam Rigby, Dec Roberts and Phil Roberts all took to the court on Wednesday afternoon as Phil Roberts started for Ireland and came head-to-head with son, Declan who came off the bench for England.
It was a tough afternoon for Ireland against a dominant England side who went on to win 121-0 to top their group and Rigby and Roberts were both heavily involved. Adam Rigby went over for two tries, as Declan Roberts grabbed four try assists and kicked six goals in the rout.
The win for England booked them a Semi Final spot against Wales on Sunday evening.
France 116-6 USA
Holders France were the final opponents for USA, as Matt Wooloff featured once more. The reigning Champions made life difficult for the USA, though they were able to get on the scoreboard to deny France a whitewash.
Wooloff was in the top three for meters made in the American side, but defeat meant it was the end of the road for USA in the Rugby League World Cup.
Wales 70-36 Scotland
Wales’ final group game saw them up against Scotland and a win would guarantee them a Semi Final spot.
It was an even tie in the opening forty, but the Welsh side put in a good second half showing, with Mark Williams coming off the interchange and kicking two goals to peel away and take a 70-36 win and booking a Semi Final tie against England on Sunday evening.
Women’s Group Stages
England 42-4 PNG
England faced their fiercest challenge yet as they met PNG on Wednesday night. Papua New Guinea were the last team to hand England Women a defeat, and they started strong on the evening, going over for a score after just 3 minutes.
It was a bruising encounter, which saw both Wigan representatives Vicky Molyneux and Georgia Wilson left out of the starting 17. PNG were battling hard and kept England to 14-4 at the half time break but England showed their strength in attack as they flew out of the blocks in the second half to take a 42-4 win, topping their group and remaining undefeated in the Rugby League World Cup so far.
The win means that England will face New Zealand on Monday evening in the Semi Final.
France 18-26 Cook Islands
Laureane Biville started and got the assist for France’s final try of the game but they came up just short against Cook Islands on Thursday night.
France were left to rue their missed conversions as Cook Islands put in a good display to trouble the peristent French defence. At 22-14 with less than 10 minutes to go, the French side were hopeful of a late score to put the game in the balance, but it was the Cook Islands who scored a late effort to take their only win of the tournament.
Men’s Semi Final
England 26-27 Samoa
John Bateman started for England on Saturday afternoon whilst Mike Cooper was on the interchange for Shaun Wane’s England side who faced Samoa in the Rugby League World Cup Semi Final at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.
It was an end-to-end game which saw Samoa draw first blood, and despite a reply from England the Samoans went in at the interval with a 10-6 lead. John Bateman responded with a try shortly after the restart which was converted to put England back ahead but Samoa hit back with a further two scores.
The arm-wrestle continued as the match finished 26-all and went to golden point, as England were knocked out of the tournament by a Stephen Crighton drop-goal in golden point extra time.
Wheelchair Semi Final
England 125-22 Wales
Declan Roberts was involved as England made light work of Wales to book a spot in the Rugby League World Cup Final against the holders, France.
Adam Rigby was not involved in the Semi Final for England, whilst Mark Williams also missed out for Wales. Roberts showed his worth off the interchange bench though as he got one try, one try assist, one goal and one drop goal to help England to the 125-22 win.
Going into the final few days of the Rugby League World Cup, England Women face New Zealand this evening (Monday 14th November) for a spot in next weekend’s final whilst England Wheelchair prepare for their Final which takes place on Friday 18th November at Manchester Central.
In the other Women’s Semi Final, Australia will face Papua New Guinea and the Men’s Final will be contested between Australi and Samoa. Get tickets for the remaining matches HERE.
