Match Report

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2021 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup

07 November 2022 • KO 19:30

50 v 32

English Institute of Sport, Sheffield

Attendance: 1214

Referee : David Roig

Match Stats
9   Tries   6
7   Conversions   4
0   Penalties   0
0   Drop Goals   0

Match Report

USA Wheelchair

By Ian Golden in Sheffield. Pic: Ian Lovell

In one of the best games of the Rugby League World Cup so far, in all of its disciplines, Wales kept their semi-final hopes alive with a hard-fought and exciting 50-32 win over USA.

Wales now need to beat Scotland on Thursday afternoon (kick-off 1.30pm) to have a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.

The Americans had the better of Wales for much of the first half, but when Wales sharpened their focus on the game, there was no stopping them.

Wales had the bulk of the early possession but were finding the US defence tough to crack. Handling errors didn’t help and USA took advantage, taking the lead when Jeff Townsend scored under the sticks on eight minutes. William Johnstone converted.

They extended their lead two minutes later. Gary Preece couldn’t collect from a kick and Mackenzie Johnson pounced to score under the posts. Johnstone couldn’t convert but Wales were 10-0 down.

Preece made up for it in Wales’ next attack by dodging the US nicely to score Wales’ first try. Stephen Halsey converted.

US scored next. Townsend outpaced everyone to collect a kick and score. Johnstone converted to put them 16-6 up.

Wales fought back, and after winning penalty, Stuart Williams grounded for his 60th Welsh try. Halsey converted.

Williams’ second of the game, his 61st internationally, levelled the scores. Halsey’s conversion gave Wales the lead for the first time, before going over for a try of his own and converting.

USA brought the score back to 24-22 when Matthew Wooloff scored and Johnstone converted, but after Williams completed his hat-trick and Halsey converted, Wales were 30-22 up at the break.

Harry Jones, again starting as sub, caused an impact just five minutes after entering play, scoring in the corner. Halsey couldn’t convert but Wales now had a two-try cushion for the first time.

USA fought back. Townsend completed his hat-trick by scoring in the corner but Micah Stewart couldn’t land the extras.

But it was Wales who were next over. Preece grounded in the corner but Halsey couldn’t convert.

Then Wales’ top points scorer Andrew Higgins increased Wales’ lead further with a try and goal. Scott Trigg-Turner followed him over, with Higgins converting to bring up the 50.

USA weren’t finished yet. Townsend sped through a tiring Welsh line for his fourth of the evening and Stewart converted to bring the score back to 50-32.

However Wales held firm to complete their thrilling victory.

Team Lists and Scoring Information

Wal Wheelchair Tries Goals DGs Pts Cards
0 Stephen Halsey 1 5 14
0 Gary Preece 2 8
0 Jodie Boyd-Ward
0 Stuart Williams (c) 3 12
0 Martin Lane
Substitute
0 Alan Caron
0 Harry Jones 1 4
0 Andrew Higgins 1 2 8
0 Mark Williams
0 Scott Trigg-Turner 1 4
USA Wheelchair Tries Goals DGs Pts Cards
0 Mackenzie Johnson 1 4
0 Jeff Townsend (c) 4 16
0 William Johnstone 3 6
0 Micah Stewart 1 2
0 Matthew Wooloff 1 4
Substitute
0 Tony Leboutillier
0 Jesse Lind
0 Andy Kingsley
0 Gabi Cha
0 Jensen Blaine
Time Score Player Team Action
5 0 - 0 Jesse Lind USA Wheelchair Replacement On
5 0 - 0 Micah Stewart USA Wheelchair Replacement Off
7 0 - 4 Jeff Townsend USA Wheelchair Try
8 0 - 6 William Johnstone USA Wheelchair Conversion
9 0 - 10 Mackenzie Johnson USA Wheelchair Try
10 0 - 10 William Johnstone USA Wheelchair Missed Conversion
11 0 - 10 Jesse Lind USA Wheelchair Replacement Off
11 0 - 10 Micah Stewart USA Wheelchair Replacement On
11 4 - 10 Gary Preece Wal Wheelchair Try
13 6 - 10 Stephen Halsey Wal Wheelchair Conversion
18 6 - 14 Jeff Townsend USA Wheelchair Try
18 6 - 16 William Johnstone USA Wheelchair Conversion
22 6 - 16 Scott Trigg-Turner Wal Wheelchair Replacement On
22 6 - 16 Jodie Boyd-Ward Wal Wheelchair Replacement Off
23 6 - 16 Mackenzie Johnson USA Wheelchair Missed Drop Goal
24 10 - 16 Stuart Williams Wal Wheelchair Try
25 12 - 16 Stephen Halsey Wal Wheelchair Conversion
26 12 - 16 Andrew Higgins Wal Wheelchair Replacement On
26 12 - 16 Gary Preece Wal Wheelchair Replacement Off
27 12 - 16 William Johnstone USA Wheelchair Replacement Off
27 12 - 16 Jesse Lind USA Wheelchair Replacement On
29 16 - 16 Stuart Williams Wal Wheelchair Try
30 18 - 16 Stephen Halsey Wal Wheelchair Conversion
31 22 - 16 Stephen Halsey Wal Wheelchair Try
32 24 - 16 Stephen Halsey Wal Wheelchair Conversion
32 24 - 16 William Johnstone USA Wheelchair Replacement On
32 24 - 16 Jesse Lind USA Wheelchair Replacement Off
35 24 - 20 Matthew Wooloff USA Wheelchair Try
36 24 - 22 William Johnstone USA Wheelchair Conversion
38 28 - 22 Stuart Williams Wal Wheelchair Try
38 30 - 22 Stephen Halsey Wal Wheelchair Conversion
41 30 - 22 Stuart Williams Wal Wheelchair Replacement Off
41 30 - 22 Harry Jones Wal Wheelchair Replacement On
45 34 - 22 Harry Jones Wal Wheelchair Try
46 34 - 22 Stephen Halsey Wal Wheelchair Missed Conversion
49 34 - 22 Andy Kingsley USA Wheelchair Replacement On
49 34 - 22 William Johnstone USA Wheelchair Replacement Off
53 34 - 22 Martin Lane Wal Wheelchair Replacement Off
53 34 - 22 Mark Williams Wal Wheelchair Replacement On
54 34 - 26 Jeff Townsend USA Wheelchair Try
54 34 - 26 Micah Stewart USA Wheelchair Missed Conversion
55 34 - 26 Gary Preece Wal Wheelchair Replacement On
55 34 - 26 Harry Jones Wal Wheelchair Replacement Off
58 38 - 26 Gary Preece Wal Wheelchair Try
59 38 - 26 Stephen Halsey Wal Wheelchair Missed Conversion
60 38 - 26 Stephen Halsey Wal Wheelchair Replacement Off
60 38 - 26 Stuart Williams Wal Wheelchair Replacement On
60 38 - 26 William Johnstone USA Wheelchair Replacement On
60 38 - 26 Andy Kingsley USA Wheelchair Replacement Off
61 42 - 26 Andrew Higgins Wal Wheelchair Try
62 44 - 26 Andrew Higgins Wal Wheelchair Conversion
67 48 - 26 Scott Trigg-Turner Wal Wheelchair Try
68 48 - 26 Alan Caron Wal Wheelchair Replacement On
68 48 - 26 Matthew Wooloff USA Wheelchair Replacement On
68 48 - 26 Stuart Williams Wal Wheelchair Replacement Off
68 48 - 26 William Johnstone USA Wheelchair Replacement Off
68 50 - 26 Andrew Higgins Wal Wheelchair Conversion
71 50 - 30 Jeff Townsend USA Wheelchair Try
71 50 - 32 Micah Stewart USA Wheelchair Conversion