Match Report

2017 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup

24 July 2017 • KO 16:30

118 v 10

Gymnase du Lac, Saint-Jory

Attendance:

Match Stats
20   Tries   2
17   Conversions   1
0   Penalties   0
0   Drop Goals   0

Match Report

Fra Wheelchair




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)

Team Lists and Scoring Information

Fra Wheelchair Tries Goals DGs Pts Cards
0 Moustafa Abassi 4 16
0 Lionel Alazard 1 4
0 Gilles Clausells
0 Nicolas Clausells 3 12
0 Dany Denwelaere
0 Laurent Despues 4 16
0 Mickael Gaune 1 1 6
0 Guillaume Mautz 1 4
0 Kevin Pastor 3 12
0 Michel Penalla
0 Fabian Plaza
0 Cyril Torres 3 15 42
Wal Wheelchair Tries Goals DGs Pts Cards
0 Alan Caron
0 Gary Taylor
0 Claire Cranston
0 John Doyle
0 Andrew Higgins 1 1 6
0 Harry Mitchell-Jones
0 Stuart Williams 1 4
0 Gary Preece
0 Mark Williams (c)
Time Score Player Team Action
7 0 - 4 Moustafa Abassi Fra Wheelchair Try
8 0 - 6 Cyril Torres Fra Wheelchair Conversion
10 0 - 10 Moustafa Abassi Fra Wheelchair Try
11 0 - 10 Cyril Torres Fra Wheelchair Missed Conversion
14 0 - 14 Moustafa Abassi Fra Wheelchair Try
15 0 - 16 Cyril Torres Fra Wheelchair Conversion
16 2 - 16 Andrew Higgins Wal Wheelchair Conversion
17 2 - 20 Lionel Alazard Fra Wheelchair Try
18 2 - 22 Cyril Torres Fra Wheelchair Conversion
21 2 - 26 Guillaume Mautz Fra Wheelchair Try
22 2 - 28 Cyril Torres Fra Wheelchair Conversion
23 2 - 32 Nicolas Clausells Fra Wheelchair Try
24 2 - 34 Cyril Torres Fra Wheelchair Conversion
29 2 - 38 Moustafa Abassi Fra Wheelchair Try
30 2 - 40 Cyril Torres Fra Wheelchair Conversion
31 2 - 44 Nicolas Clausells Fra Wheelchair Try
32 2 - 46 Cyril Torres Fra Wheelchair Conversion
34 2 - 50 Nicolas Clausells Fra Wheelchair Try
35 2 - 52 Cyril Torres Fra Wheelchair Conversion
37 2 - 56 Laurent Despues Fra Wheelchair Try
38 2 - 58 Cyril Torres Fra Wheelchair Conversion
39 6 - 58 Andrew Higgins Wal Wheelchair Try
40 6 - 58 Andrew Higgins Wal Wheelchair Missed Conversion
43 6 - 62 Kevin Pastor Fra Wheelchair Try
44 6 - 64 Cyril Torres Fra Wheelchair Conversion
48 6 - 68 Kevin Pastor Fra Wheelchair Try
49 6 - 68 Cyril Torres Fra Wheelchair Missed Conversion
51 6 - 72 Laurent Despues Fra Wheelchair Try
52 6 - 74 Mickael Gaune Fra Wheelchair Conversion
55 10 - 74 Stuart Williams Wal Wheelchair Try
58 10 - 78 Fra Wheelchair Penalty Try
59 10 - 80 Fra Wheelchair Conversion
60 10 - 84 Cyril Torres Fra Wheelchair Try
61 10 - 86 Cyril Torres Fra Wheelchair Conversion
63 10 - 90 Laurent Despues Fra Wheelchair Try
64 10 - 92 Cyril Torres Fra Wheelchair Conversion
67 10 - 96 Cyril Torres Fra Wheelchair Try
68 10 - 98 Cyril Torres Fra Wheelchair Conversion
69 10 - 102 Mickael Gaune Fra Wheelchair Try
70 10 - 104 Cyril Torres Fra Wheelchair Conversion
72 10 - 108 Cyril Torres Fra Wheelchair Try
73 10 - 108 Cyril Torres Fra Wheelchair Missed Conversion
74 10 - 112 Laurent Despues Fra Wheelchair Try
75 10 - 112 Cyril Torres Fra Wheelchair Missed Conversion
76 10 - 116 Kevin Pastor Fra Wheelchair Try
77 10 - 118 Cyril Torres Fra Wheelchair Conversion