For the third consecutive Rugby League Wheelchair World Cup, England will take on France in the final after hammering Wales 125-22 in their semi-final match-up. After tasting defeat against the French in the past two finals, England will get a chance to exact revenge on the team that has tormented them.
The heartbreaking 42-40 loss in Gillingham in 2013 was tough to stomach, as was the 38-34 defeat on French soil five years ago. But this is an England side that are full of confidence, which was simply exuding out of every pore as they thumped Wales.
Jack Brown became the star of the show as he scored a ridiculous eight tries as England ran riot against a plucky Welsh outfit. Now we will see the two giants of the sport collide in the final everybody had hoped for on Friday night.
His particular face off with Jeremy Bourson, who scored five tries of his own in France’s semi-final win over Australia is truly mouthwatering and if Brown can produce like he did tonight, England have a great chance of glory.
READ MORE:
But for all of Brown’s brilliance, it was another talent, Sebastian Bechara, who stole the show early on. He found half an inch of space and burst through it to give England an early lead before he showed a phenomenal turn of pace to fly through the ragged Welsh back line and double England’s lead. The pace, movement and power that he showed for that try proves exactly why he is one of the stars of this tournament as Hawkins made it two conversions from two.
Just before the seven minute mark, he got his hat-trick. He found himself on the left touchline and wiggled past a challenge to make it 16-0, before Hawkins added the extras. A wonderful passing move then allowed Joe Coyd to get on the scoresheet as they played some champagne rugby to tear them apart, leading to two free men on the far side.
Wales started to see more of the ball and then finally made some pressure count as Scott Trigg-Turner was freed on the right wing and got over the line to get his side on the scoresheet. Higgins added the extras but England responded immediately as Coyd got his second after a fortunate bounce.
He then got his hat-trick as he burst down the left into clear space after capitalising on a loose kick to cross under the posts. Jack Brown added another try in style before Robert Hawkins got his first of the night after some wonderful individual play from Bechara. Brown raced clear to bring up the 50 point mark before Bechara got his fourth.
Brown then became the third England player to score a hat-trick in the first half, before adding his fourth before the break. 70-6 at half-time.
Brown scored again, Coyd got his fourth and Lewis King got his name on the try scorers list from out wide. But Wales kept on plugging away and they were rewarded when Gary Preece sold the defender a dummy and got the ball down to make the score 86-12.
Brown then got his sixth try as he made the most of a loose ball, Nathan Collins raced away to add another but Wales kept on fighting back, as Stuart Williams managed to score from close range in a World Cup semi-final to make it 98-16.
Brown brought up the 100 with his 7th try of the night and his 51st World Cup try in total, before another ridiculous individual effort made it eight for Brown. However, there will be slight concerns about England’s defending as record cap holder Alan Caron got Wales’ fourth try of the night.
Declan Roberts got his try before Preece was sin-binned after a late scuffle and England piled on the pressure. James Simpson got his first try of the night before Hawkins showed blistering pace to add another, making the score 125-22.
Now only one team can deny them World Cup glory. The old enemy, France. Don't miss it on Friday night.
*18+ | Be Gamble Aware
