BROTHERS Jack Brown and Joe Calcott relished going head-to-head on Friday, and they could do so again this week should England and Ireland reach the Wheelchair World Cup Final.
The group stage of the tournament has been completed with the defending champions’ hard-fought 68-32 win ensuring they topped Group A with Ireland settling for second.
That means the Irish face Group B winners France in the first of Tuesday’s semi-finals (6.15am UK time), followed by England against Australia (8.45am).
The target is Friday’s final, back at Wollongong’s WIN Entertainment Centre which is hosting the entire competition.
While the odds are in favour of a fourth straight decider between the English and French, the fact both were severely tested in their final group game – the hosts eventually fell 69-34 to France – suggests it’s no certainty.
Ireland led England for the majority of the first half of a game in which both Calcott, playing in his first World Cup, and his sibling and Halifax Panthers teammate Brown, who has participated in them all since the inaugural 2008 edition and won the trophy twice, scored tries.
“I’m extremely proud of Joe – I love his dedication to the Ireland set-up,” said Brown.
“It brings me a lot of joy seeing him happy with his teammates, playing how he is, and enjoying something I enjoy as well.
“The great thing for me and myself, and all the families in this sport, is they can love each other either side of the 80 minutes but beat the hell out of each other during those 80 minutes!”
England coach Tom Coyd believes that challenge from Ireland will serve them well against Australia, who have never beaten them before but did push them to a 48-42 scoreline in the second and final match of last autumn’s Ashes series.
He said: “These (group fixtures) were our first three games this year. For us it was about topping the group but also discovery around combinations, and playing the guys back into form.
“The fact we were put under serious pressure excites me, because it hardens us for the next battle. There’s no doubt we’ll be better prepared for Tuesday because of the test we’ve been put through.”
