Wales Women win first ever capped match, beating England Lions 24-20 in St Helens.

WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL
ENGLAND LIONS 20 WALES 24
By Ian Golden at Pilkington Recs, St Helens

Wales Women fought hard for an historic first win in only their second match, beating England Lions 24-20 in St Helens on Saturday.

The new England side, who were facing Wales whilst their first team were in Papua New Guinea, were far more experienced individually, as for most of the Wales players, it was only their third, fourth or fifth game of rugby league ever, making their win even more special.

England got off to a good start after capitalising on a knock-on. Michelle Davis ran through to score with Leanne Johnson converting.

Wales hit back on 14 minutes. Skipper Rafiuke Taylor scored in the corner with Kathryn Salter just missing the tricky kick.

England extended their advantage to 12-4 on 20 minutes after Leanne Harvey scored to the left of the sticks with Davis converting.

Wales scored again when Taylor scored a fantastic individual try, scoring under the sticks so Salter could easily convert.

But England went into the break with a 16-10 lead after Emma Templeton scored in the corner.

Wales opened the second half well when Zoe Lewis caught a cross-field kick to score in the corner. Salter’s conversion attempt hit the crossbar and bounced out.

And after England had a try disallowed for a knock-on, Waes took the lead for the first team. It was a good length of the field set, culminating in Shaunni Davies scooting round a couple of England players to run under the posts. Salter converted to put Wales 20-16 up.

England continued to look for a try back, but Wales’ defence was holding firm. Samantha Hulme looked for her winger with a sneaky grubber, but the ball drifted into touch. It was similar at the other end after Leanne Burnell’s kick was too long for anyone to run onto.

Then Davies took advantage of a loose ball to race for the line to put Wales eight points up. Salter’s conversion attempt just drifted wide.

Sarina Tamou scored an unconverted try in the corner with two minutes remaining to give England hope but in the end, Wales held on for their historic victory.
ENGLAND: Michelle Davis (Warrington Wolves), Leanne Johnson (Leigh Miners Rangers), Olivia Cummins (Huddersfield Giants), Emma Templeton (Keighley Albion), Charlize Magraw (Widnes Vikings), Emily Stirzaker (Barrow Raiders), Mairead Quinn (Leigh Miners Rangers), Keira McCosh (Warrington Wolves), Isabel Biby (Huddersfield Giants), Rachael Barker (Stanningley), Rebekah Wilson (Warrington Wolves), Sarina Tamou (Widnes Vikings), Lauren Harvey (Cutsyke Raiders). Subs: Dani Bound (Warrington Wolves), Samantha Hulme (Whitley Bay Barbarians), Celia Farrimond (Leigh Miners Rangers), Paige Webster (West Leeds), Leah Cottier (Barrow Raiders).

Tries: Davis (3), Harvey (20), Templeton (39), Tamou (78)
Goals: Johnson 1/1, Davis 1/3

WALES: Kathryn Salter (Cardiff Blue Dragons, East Wales), Zoe Lewis (Rhondda Outlaws, East Wales), Rafiuke Taylor (c) (Cardiff Blue Dragons, West Wales), Seren Gough-Walters (Cardiff Blue Dragons), Savannah Ledsam (Cardiff Blue Dragons, West Wales), Shaunni Davies (Rhondda Outlaws, East Wales), Leanne Burnell (Cardiff Blue Dragons, West Wales), Emily Hughes (Cardiff Blue Dragons), Jess Wallington (Cardiff Blue Dragons), Vicky Lea (British Army, GB Armed Forces), Lauren Aitken (Cardiff Blue Dragons, West Wales), Rebecca Llewellyn Ennis (Cardiff Blue Dragons, West Wales), Megan Oaten (Rhondda Outlaws). Subs: Kim Jones (Cardiff Blue Dragons, East Wales), Charlie Mundy (Cardiff Blue Dragons, East Wales), Joeann McGuire (Rhondda Outlaws, East Wales), Rhian Stephens (Rhondda Outlaws, West Wales), Karla Benjamin (Rhondda Outlaws, East Wales).

Tries: Taylor (14, 25), Lewis (53), Davies (60, 72)
Goals: Salter 2/5

Referee: Sam Houghton
Half-time: 16-10
Attendance: 425

Players of the Match: England – Michelle Davis, Wales – Rafiuke Taylor

COMMUNITY INTERNATIONAL
ENGLAND LIONS U23 68 WALES DRAGONHEARTS 0
By Ian Golden at Pilkington Recs, St Helens

Wales Dragonhearts fell to a record 68-0 defeat against a strong England Lions U23 side, in a role reversal of their dominance against Lithuania last week.

The game was won by half-time after England ran in seven first half tries, the first four coming after Wales gave away penalties.

The first try came on three minutes. Harry McAllister opened up a gap for Jacob Moose. Josh Poskitt converted.

Soon after that, Dean Rooney fed to McAllister and split the Wales defence to run home. Poskitt converted again to make it 12-0

Harvey Gotts raced through for the third which Poskitt improved again before Danny Cassidy twisted over for England’s fourth.

Jack Smith ran over for the fifth and Tom Sowerby for the sixth. Poskitt converted both before scoring one of his own but missing the kick to put the half-time score onto 38-0.

Wales were more competitive in the second half and just a dropped ball in the first couple of minutes prevented them from getting on the board early on.

It took until the 55th minute before Sam Lewis scored England’s first of the half which Poskitt improved.

Danny Cassidy added to that with a try in the corner before Jack Smith ran through with ease for England to pass 50 with Poskitt converting.

Then Dean Rooney created a try for Harvey Gotts under the sticks. Poskitt converted to bring up 60 points.

Danny Cassidy looked to have completed the rout with a try in the corner but there was still time for Tom Sowerby to race in for his second, the final score of the game.

ENGLAND COMMUNITY LIONS U23: Tom Sowerby (Lock Lane), Josh Poskitt (Beverley) , Jack Reynolds (Leigh Miners Rangers), Jack Watts (West Hull), Jack Smith (Stanningley), Danny Cassidy (Ince Rose Bridge), Dean Rooney (Wath Brow Hornets), Connor Molyneaux (Wath Brow Hornets), Harry Tyson-Wilson (West Hull), Marc Lomas (Thatto Heath Crusaders), Jacob Moore (West Hull), Harry McAllister (Featherstone Lions), Harvey Gotts (Skirlaugh). Subs: Sam Arrowsmith (Wigan St Patricks), Jack Georgiou (Siddal), Brad Hailes (Egremont), Liam Kenyon, Jack Reynolds (Leigh Miners Rangers).

Tries: Moore (3), McAlister (9), Gotts (14, 68), Cassidy (19, 60, 73), Smith (25, 63), Sowerby (31, 80), Poskitt (35), Lewis (55)
Goals:
Josh Poskitt 8/13

WALES DRAGONHEARTS: Geoffrey Hick (Torfaen Tigers, East Wales), Kurtis Haille (Torfaen Tigers, East Wales), Liam Watton (Valley Cougars, East Wales), Gareth Howells (Bridgend Blue Bulls, West Wales), Liam Silver (Torfaen Tigers, East Wales), Ben Jones (Valley Cougars, West Wales), Shane Lee (Valley Cougars, West Wales), Luca Owen-Youens (North Wales Crusaders A, North Wales Origin), Dean Higgs (Valley Cougars, East Wales), Shaun Watton (Rhondda Outlaws, East Wales), Ben Stelmaszek (Thatto Heath Crusaders, North Wales Origin), Craig Lewis (Valley Cougars, East Wales), Mike Hurley (Valley Cougars, East Wales). Subs: Grant Harrington (Torfaen Tigers, East Wales), Darrel Moyle (Torfaen Tigers, East Wales), Paul Welch (North Wales Crusaders A, North Wales Origin), Ieuan Hancock (Torfaen Tigers, East Wales)

Referee: Adam Johnson
Half-time: 38-0