Travis scores as Wales lose 70–6 to England on World Cup debut

Wales began a first women’s Rugby League World Cup campaign with a 70–6 defeat by England at HBF Park in Perth on Saturday. Paige Travis scored the Welsh try. The second-rower crossed after eight minutes and Tayla Preston’s conversion brought Wales level at 6–6. England then built a 40–6 half-time lead, leaving Wales facing a large deficit at the interval.

An early reply before England took control

Amelia Brown opened the scoring for England, with Isabel Rowe converting. Travis answered for Wales before Georgia Wilson and Connie Boyd crossed to put England back in front. Boyd and Anna Davies went on to complete try hat-tricks, with Brown and Rowe crossing twice. Bethan Dainton captained Wales, with Ffion Lewis and Preston in the halves and Hannah Bluck at centre. The NRL’s final match record supplies the confirmed teams and complete scoring sequence in the match centre. Wales Rugby League had identified Lewis as a potential first woman to appear at World Cups in both rugby codes before the tournament. Lewis started this match after previously playing union at a World Cup. Before the match, head coach Tom Brindle described the occasion as “a moment of history” for Welsh sport and praised the work behind reaching the World Cup.

The difference in attack

England recorded 1,739 running metres to Wales’ 590, according to the NRL match centre. England also made 19 line breaks against Wales’ 1. Those figures show the gap in attacking progress despite Wales’ early score. The result leaves Wales without a win from the opening Pool A match. Wales next face Samoa on Friday 23 October and Australia on Sunday 1 November.