photo by Ian Lovell

From Bridgend to Brisbane, Wales face Ireland twice this weekend in two important rugby league international competitions.

On Sunday, the successful Wales A side continue their defence of the Home Nations trophy when they face their Irish counterparts at Porthcawl RFC in the county borough of Bridgend (kick-off 14:00BST).

Wales opened their campaign in Scotland two weeks ago with great success as they put in a strong second half performance to win 62-20. Sunday’s game is Ireland’s first in this tournament.

Wales A are hoping for their first win over Ireland in three years with last year’s clash being an exciting 16-16 draw in Carlow.

Adrian Owen, Martin Corley, Paul Young, Steve Parry, Jason Hill and Lee Williams, all of whom starred in the win in Glasgow two weeks ago are all unavailable so coach Dan Clements has called on Bridgend duo Karl Hocking and Leighton O’Connor, Christian Wills from Valley Cougars, Martin Vaughan from Torfaen Tigers, Richard Davies from Newport Titans and Crusaders Colts’ Elliott Kear.

A win for Wales will set them up nicely for the traditional decider against England – a match that Wales have won three times in the last five years. Wales A fixtures, results and reports can be found here.

WALES A: 1. Scott Bessant (Newport Titans), 2. Matt Harvey (NPT Steelers), 3. Carl Thomas (Valley Cougars), 4. Christian Wills (Valley Cougars), 5. Trevor James (Blackwood Bulldogs), 6. Owen Jones (Newport Titans), 7. Paul Emmanuelli  (Blackwood Bulldogs), 8. Mark Wheeler (Newport Titans (capt)), 9. Tyrone Mahoney (Newport Titans), 10. Mark Jones (Valley Cougars), 11. Karl Hocking (Bridgend Blue Bulls), 12. Anthony Lott (Newport Titans), 13. Dean Scully (NPT Steelers), 14. Martin Vaughan (Torfaen Tigers), 15. Graham Hughes (Cardiff Demons), 16. Lloyd O’Connor (Bridgend Blue Bulls), 17. Richard Davies

(Newport Titans), 18. Elliott Kear (Cardiff Demons / Crusaders Colts)

In the early hours of Saturday morning UK time the Welsh Student side open their World Cup campaign against Ireland in Brisbane (5:45BST).

Wales only arrived in Australia’s sunshine state on Tuesday so they have spent the week getting acclimatised before their big game, the second in a quadruple header that opens the tournament.

Wales are looking to improve on their best ever fourth placed finish in 1992 and have selected a strong squad for this task including five players who are currently on Celtic Crusaders books in Barrie Phillips, Lloyd White, Chris Holcombe, Owen Lewis and Lewis Fox, former Crusaders star Grant Epton plus Rob Worrincy from Crusaders’ National League One rivals Sheffield Eagles and Jason Mosson from Workington Town.

Welsh team manager James Davies said: “We’re all settling in well here in Brisbane. The Ireland match will be a tough game but it’s a must win for us as we know we’ve got New Zealand and France to play in the next week and we need to beat at least one of those nations to qualify for the semi-finals.”

Wales beat Ireland 25-10 in the 2005 World Cup but only one player from that win, Pete Moore, will feature in the Dragons’ side this weekend. Wales Students fixtures, results and reports can be found here.

WALES STUDENTS (from): Gareth David (Captain) – Coleg Glan Hafren, Jason Mossop – Leeds Met, Grant Epton – Bridgend College, Daniel Blethyn – UWIC, Robert Worrincy – Leeds Met, David Dyers – Neath Port Talbot College, Rhys Griffiths – Leeds Met, Chris Roets – Coleg Sir Gâr, Lloyd White – St David’s College, Owen Lewis – Loughborough University, Craig Fox – Bridgend College, Peter Moore – Leeds Met, Craig Everett – Coleg Sir Gâr, Barrie Phillips – Glamorgan University, Lewis Fox – St Davids College, Daniel Smith – Bridgend College, John Trickey – UWIC, Christopher Holcombe – UWIC, Steven Duggan – Swansea University, Gareth Barron – Staffordshire University, James Davies – Loughborough University, Daniel Wright – Bangor University, Jon Rimmer – University of Wales, Newport, Gareth Owen - Liverpool John Moores, Simon Perry – Loughborough University.

article by Ian Golden
3 July 2008