PERTH: England beat Wales 70-6 in their Women’s Rugby League World Cup opener on Saturday, with Connie Boyd and Anna Davies scoring hat-tricks.
Debutant Boyd helped England overwhelm the tournament newcomers, while Isabel Rowe contributed 26 points through two tries and nine conversions.
Amelia Brown also scored twice, including a 109-metre run after collecting a bouncing Welsh kick behind her own try line. Her length-of-the-field effort ended a promising Wales attack.
England finished with 13 tries at HBF Park. Stu Barrow’s side are seeking their first World Cup final appearance. However, Wales briefly threatened an upset after Brown opened the scoring in the third minute.
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Paige Travis crossed inside the opening 10 minutes, and a conversion levelled the score. Travis had represented England at the previous World Cup.
England responded through Georgia Wilson before Hollie-Mae Dodd’s offload helped Boyd claim her first try. Dodd then crossed herself after Wales held Fran Goldthorp up over the line.
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By half-time, England had scored seven tries and led 40-6. After the interval, Jasmin Strange scored her England debut try before Rowe added her second.
Boyd and Davies completed their hat-tricks during a late scoring burst. Wales face Samoa in their next Group A match on October 23.
England beat Wales 70-6 as Boyd and Davies scored hat-tricks in their World Cup opener.
