Wales 6-32 England

England may have won at Cross Keys, but Wales showed massive improvement from last year’s encounter between the teams.

Back then, they failed to register a point, losing 60-0. This time around the score was much closer, which is credit both to the good work done by the Cardiff Demons, who provided most of the players, and to the hard work everyone put in. in training camps in Wales.

England started like they meant business and Tara Stanley looked to score her first try but was stopped in her tracks by Amberley Ruck forcing her to drop the ball.

The same English player lost another early chance. His offload was too weak and Wales recovered again.

But eventually they crossed for their first try when Fran Goldthorp went too far. Stanley missed the conversion attempt.

Wales looked to fight back and had a strong set six, with Ruck making the initial break, but Molly Reardon was held over the line on the final tackle.

England’s second try came at 15 minutes. Amy Hardcastle was unloaded on Goldthorp, who dived. Stanley’s kick went in on a post and the visitors were leading 10-0.

Shortly after, they crossed over for their third. Hardcastle stormed the score which was not converted.

After some good pressure from Wales, England broke away again and could have claimed a long-range try, but Leanne Burnell was exceptional with her pace to stop Caroline Collie in her tracks.

However, they secured a fourth before halftime. England got a penalty 20 yards from goal and didn’t waste it. After a good passing move, Shona Hoyle dove just to the right of the posts, Stanley easily adding the extras to give England a 20-0 lead at the break.

They increased their advantage three minutes into the second half when Tara Jones slipped through the Wales backline. Stanley converted again.

To their credit, Wales never gave up. They came close to the goal and were stopped centimeters from the line on the final tackle of a productive set. England rushed upfield and denied themselves due to a forward pass.

The home side finally penetrated the tough English defence, and it was well deserved. Following a penalty, Burnell stormed in and Ruck converted.

The last 13 minutes of the match were played under another referee. Irishman Eamonn Whelan suffered an ankle injury and local manager Kristoff Young replaced him.

But that didn’t affect the pace of the thrilling game played in front of 621.

Wales were close to a second try with six minutes to go, with Ruck’s grubber going too far for anyone to hang onto.

England started the resulting set early and would have scored against the Wales side last year. Not this time though, as the home team were level with them and prevented a sixth down.

However, England finally got the last laugh thanks to a try from Hollie Dodd which Stanley converted.

Wales head coach Tom Brindle was pleased with his side’s efforts.

He said: “In our last game against England we learned a lot. For a lot of that game we matched them physically. It will be very interesting to see where we are in a few years.

“It’s important now that we build on today and put in a good performance against Italy, and if a win comes from that, that’s great.”

England head coach Craig Richards was grateful for the tough test Wales gave them ahead of next week’s game against France.

He said: “I was quite happy with the performance. It was a good show from us, especially in defence, because we didn’t have the ball as much as we did in last year’s game.

“I was happy with the effort, we were tested a lot more than last year and I was happy with that. We have areas to work on and that’s what we will do.

By Ian Golden

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Italy 6-30 Ireland

Ireland relied on a stellar first-half performance, which forged a 24-0 lead at the break, to claim the historic opener of Women’s Euro B North.

The honors were shared in the scorching sun of the second half, with the hosts improving greatly in front of over 500 spectators.

In a game split into four quarters because of the 36-degree heat and preceded by a minute’s silence in honor of former Italian Rugby League vice-president Tiziano Franchini, the free striker Dublin City Exiles Alison Coleman opened with an early hat-trick, smashing in for her first, breaking through the cross for the second and crossing for a third in an unstoppable spell.

Bedford Tigers’ Storm Cobain and Ray Lawless also came through late in the opening period and, after Roisin Crowe went near the hour mark, substitute Charlie Willett scored Ireland’s only second-half try .

The last word went to feisty Italy, Alessandra Menotti forced her way through at the last minute and Rebecca Pantaleoni added the extras, and head coach Alberton Suin said: “It was not an easy match. , it hurts to lose cause I know what’s inside us but it’s an encouraging start The girls gave it their all but there’s no time to feel sorry for themselves, it’s a solid group and now we can’t wait to play against Wales.

Ireland head coach John Whalley said: “It was a really good performance from the girls. The first half was one-sided and everything went well, but the heat played a big role in the second. Full credit to Italy, they never gave up and had a real fighting spirit until the end. We will resume our performances and be ready for Wales in October, a game we are looking forward to.

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Wales kick off their Northern Women’s European B Championship campaign on Sunday June 19 with a home game against Italy.

The game will be played at Pandy Park, Cross Keys – where the Welsh hosted England in a stand-alone Test match yesterday – with kick-off at 1pm.

Italy kicked off their own campaign on Saturday, losing to visitors Ireland at the Pasian Di Pato stadium in Udine.

Wales, who are captained by 18-year-old Bryonie King – the youngest international ‘running’ skipper in Welsh Rugby League history – announced their 26-man squad ahead of the game against England. England.

Head coach Tom Brindle’s roster consists of Anne-Marie Sayle (Bradford Bulls), Katie Carr, Rosie Carr, Ffion Jenkins, Ffion Jones, Sara Jones, Eleri Michael (all Bridgend Blue Bulls/Cardiff Demons), Bethan Dainton, Jess McAuley (British Army), Lauren Aitken, Leanne Burnell, Seren Gough-Walters, Charlie Mundy, Rhi Parker, Brittony Price, Amberley Ruck, Rafiuke Taylor (all Cardiff Blue Dragons/Cardiff Demons), Emily Hughes, Kathryn Salter (both London Broncos), Bryonie King, Joeann McGuire, Molly Reardon (all Rhondda Outlaws/Cardiff Demons), Fern Davies, Rebecca Davies, Keira McCosh (Warrington Wolves), Carys Marsh (Wigan Warriors).

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As Super League Group 1 paused due to international action, all eyes were on Group 2, where a first-half Chloe Billington hat-trick sent FEATHERSTONE ROVERS to a 54-10 victory TRINITY OF WAKEFIELD.

There were also two tries each for Jessie Matthews and Zoe Teece, while Brogan Kennedy, Sam Jordan, Nat Carr and Hannah Watt also crossed. Matthews added four conversions, with Jess Lee kicking.

Abbie Millward crossed for Trinity in the first half with Lisa Taylor adding to their tally after the break with a try and a conversion.

The win put Rovers level with league-leading Warrington Wolves, having played one game more.

BRADFORD BULLS has won three in a row with a 52-0 victory over CASTLEFORD TIGERS and are now tied at the top with Warrington and Featherstone.

The Bulls crossed for ten tries again a Tigers team still looking for their first victory since their voluntary abandonment of group one.

Cara Cookland opened the scoring early in the first half and from there it was one-sided. Ebony Haley and Amy Boardman both crossed twice in the rout, with single scores coming from Hannah Donald, Ellena Powell, Millie Bell, Bailey Alexander and Beth McMillan. Donald added a conversion, with Emily Heaps giving five.

To complete the round, BARROW RAIDERS supported their victory over LEIGH MINOR RANGERS last week with a much closer 14-8 away win against the same opposition.

Sam Norman crossed twice for Barrow, while Natalie Saunders added a third, with Jodie Litherland kicking off a conversion.

Rangers scored once in each half, with Kate McMullen and Robyn Bell-Soppelsa on the ground.

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