Match Report

Wales lost their final game in their Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group as the hosts, holders and tournament favourites France dominated in a 118-10 win.

A general note for those who haven’t watched the Wheelchair game is that there are normally double the amount of points in this game compared to running Rugby League.

The experienced French side had also put over 100 points on Australia two days earlier and they showed no mercy against Wales, scoring in as early as the seventh minute through Moustafa Abassi with Cyril Torres converting.

Abassi soon completed his hat-trick and added a fourth later in the half. Three tries from Nicolas Clausells, one each from Lionel Alazard, Guillaume Mautz, Laurent Despues and eight more Torres goals gave France a 58-0 lead.

Wales hit back just before the break through an unconverted Andrew Higgins try but it took just three minutes for France to extend their lead in the second half, Kevin Pastor scoring the try and Torres converting.

Pastor added another try five minutes later and a Laurent Despues try, converted by Mickael Gaune brought the score up to 74-4.

Wales scored again in the 55th minute as Stuart Williams went over and Higgins converted to make it 74-10.

However France finished the game in style. Torres and Despuses each added two more tries with Pastor and Gaune each scoring one more, plus there was an uncredited penalty try.

Wales’ Harry Jones didn’t complete the game as he suffered a seizure after being exposed to flash photography. Wales coach Steve Jones said: “Despite being taken off the pitch on a stretcher, Harry has made a recovery, but may miss the quarter final game depending on his condition in the morning. It’ll be another tough game against Italy tomorrow as they won their group in style.”

Because this World Cup in a seven-team tournament, the number of entrants that were able to travel to France, the 2013 semi-finalists - Wales, France, Australia and England - were in Group A, the “Super Group”, whilst the lesser ranking sides Scotland, Italy and Spain were in Group B.

Group A winners France and runners-up England automatically qualify for the semi-finals on Wednesday, whilst Wales and Australia have a second chance to join them.

In tomorrow’s quarter-finals, Wales will now face Group B winners Italy, and Australia will take on Group B runners up Spain. Scotland have been eliminated from the tournament.

Wales will have two more games to play should they beat Italy. Even if they don’t make the final, there are third and fifth placed play-off matches on Thursday featuring the losers of the quarter and semi-finals respectively, ahead of Friday’s final in Perpignan.

FRANCE: Moustafa Abassi, Lionel Alazard, Dany Denuwelaere, Fabien Plaza, Cyril Torres (all St Jory), Giles Clausells, Nicolas Clausells, Laurent Despues (all Catalans Dragons), Guillaume Mautz, Kevin Pastor (both SO Avignon), Mickael Gaune (Roanne), Michel Penella (Angrak Euskadi)