AUSTRALIA 124 WALES 6
IAN GOLDEN, CommBank Stadium, Parramatta, Sunday

WALES achieved what England and Samoa failed to do in this World Cup and scored a try against the Jillaroos.

When Paige Travis went over in the 59th minute in one of the most one-sided matches in rugby league history, it produced the loudest cheer of the match.

But that was all Wales had to cheer about in an encounter that showed the continuing disparity between the Australian and British game.

Australia ran in 21 tries for a world-record women’s international win, a feat that was sealed with the final kick of the game after Jesse Southwell kicked her 20th goal.

The best in Super League had already been humiliated at the hands of the Jillaroos, and with many of the Welsh players plying their trade in the Championship, this match was never going to be better.

But at least Wales scored a try, and they did open well, even winning an early penalty and forcing Australia into errors, with captain Bethan Dainton especially running hard.

Unfortunately for Wales, that action in the fifth minute was their last set before the break, as when the Australians got the ball, for half an hour, they didn’t let it go.

The first try came on seven minutes. Olivia Kernick played a nice one-two with Mackenzie Weale to ground just right of the sticks.

From the next set, the score was doubled. Jaime Chapman sprinted down the wing and had time to give a better kicking position for Southwell, who created the next try with a nice cut-out pass for Chapman.

It took a few more minutes for try number four, after Wales defended one set well, conceding a goal-line drop-out, but Abbi Church was brilliant in escaping the Welsh players.

The fifth try came from the first major error in the Welsh defence, where they allowed Southwell to pick up a loose ball to score.

From the next set, Jessica Sergis scored in the corner whilst under pressure.

Kezie Apps was quick to get the next, Chapman followed her over for her hat-trick, then Sergis scored her second.

After Sariah Paki scored Australia’s tenth try of the half, there was less than two minutes left on the clock. Australia could have scored an eleventh but good defence by Zoe Heeley prevented that, making it 60-0 at half-time.

Australia kicked off, allowing Wales to have a set which they completed, but the Jillaroos scored as soon as they regained the ball as Keilee Joseph ran in.

Sergis then completed her hat-trick and from the next set, Australia failed to score, but even then, Wales gave away a scrum and Chapman was allowed to score her fourth. Joseph then scored under the sticks.

The crowd were so much behind Wales, referee Kasey Badger was booed for awarding Australia a penalty on Wales’ ten-metre line, one that Church happily ran in. Southwell’s kick hit the post, her only miss of the day.

She did land the goal after Sergis scored her fourth try, with that play bringing a World Cup and Jillaroos record score, and then again after Tamika Upton’s first of the game, putting the score on to 100-0.

Then, Wales went on to the attack for just the second time in the half, won a penalty, and scored. Tayla Preston kicked a grubber that fooled the Austalians and Travis collected. Preston converted.

This meant Wales had another go. They completed the set, but Australia regained the ball and scored, through substitute Keeley Nizza.

Chapman (twice, for a six-try total) and Upton followed her over, with Southwell kicking all the goals, to bring up that world record.

GAMESTAR: Jessica Sergis was a stand-out and deserved her four tries.

GAMEBREAKER: As soon as Australia scored their first, there was no turning back.

MATCHFACTS

AUSTRALIA
1 Tamika Upton
2 Jaime Chapman
3 Jessica Sergis
4 Isabelle Kelly
5 Abbi Church
6 Jesse Southwell
7 Tarryn Aiken
8 Ellie Johnston
9 Quincy Dodd
10 Makenzie Weale
11 Kezie Apps
12 Sariah Paki
13 Olivia Kernick
Subs (all used)
14 Keeley Nizza
15 Keilee Joseph
16 Sarah Togatuki
22 Sheridan Gallagher

Tries: Kernick (7), Chapman (9, 11, 28, 43, 65, 69), Church (16, 51), Southwell (18), Sergis (21, 30, 40, 54), Apps (24), Paki (32), Joseph (37, 45), Upton (56, 70), Nizza (63)
Goals: Southwell 20/21

WALES
1 Leanne Burnell
2 Zoe Heeley
3 Jade Mullen
4 Hannah Bluck
5 Sian Williams
6 Ffion Lewis
7 Tayla Preston
8 Agnes Wood
9 Carys Marsh
10 Emily Hughes
11 Georgia Cussons
12 Paige Travis
13 Bethan Dainton
Subs (all used)
14 Kathryn Salter
15 Erin Williams
16 Gracie Hobbs
17 Lucia Davies

Tries: Travis (60)
Goals: Preston 1/1

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0, 24-0, 30-0, 36-0, 42-0, 48-0, 54-0, 60-0; 66-0, 72-0, 78-0, 84-0, 88-0, 94-0, 100-0, 100-6, 106-6, 112-6, 118-6, 124-6

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Women of the Match
Australia: Jessica Sergis; Wales: Bethan Dainton

Penalty count: 6-2
Half-time: 60-0
Referee: Kasey Badger