Match Report

 



Wales have finished fifth in the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup after beating Spain 66-45 in their final ranking match today.

This is despite the Welsh being down to just seven fit players, they were missing captain Mark Williams who sustained a shoulder injury in the Italy game and Harry Jones who had suffered two seizures in the tournament through flash photography.

A shaky start saw Spain score two early tries before Wales then got their heads into the game and got stuck in, and led the Spanish 34-29 at the break.

Wales continued on in this manner and despite a plucky effort from the Spanish, the Welsh Dragons broke away and sealed the game.

Stuart Williams scored four tries, with Gary Preece, Alan Caron, Claire Cranston and Andrew Higgins each scoring two. Higgins also converted nine of the 12 tries.

Wales coach Steve Jones also gave a big shout out to Gary Taylor and John Doyle who, despite not scoring, were also invaluable on court.

At the end of the match, the Welsh players where mobbed by the children from a local school who wanted autographs and to congratulate the squad, but to top of a great game, Claire Cranston was awarded player of the match.