WARRINGTON girls made huge contributions to England’s 36-8 win in their Women’s Rugby League World Cup 2017 opener against Papua New Guinea in Sydney.
Emily Rudge and Dani Bound had a major impact off the bench while fellow former Cardinal Newman High School student and Lionesses vice-captain Jodie Cunningham was a steady influence at full-back.
Jodie Cunningham returns a kick for England, above, and has the PNG defenders hanging on, below. Pictures: NRLPhotos
Warrington-based stand-off Jenny Welsby left Cronulla’s Southern Cross Group Stadium pitch early in the first half and then deputising half Andrea Dobson, the England skipper, limped off four minutes into the second period – leaving England to hang on to their 18-8 lead.
Jenny Welsby feels the power of the Orchids before her injury. Pictures: NRLPhotos
The next try would be crucial and it was livewire Bound who burrowed over from dummy half in the 58th minute to take the Lionesses out of the Orchids’ reach.
It was a score well deserved, because Bound’s vision and scurries out of dummy half proved to be a constant thorn in the side of the big, powerful and physical PNG women.
A sweet short pass from her at a play-the-ball was perfect for England's final try, too, as Beth Sutcliffe crashed over.
Dani Bound gets play going for England. Picture: NRLPhotos
She joined play around the 28th minute mark along with Rudge, whose workrate was phenomenal in the England cause.
Second-rower Rudge went on to finish the game as England’s joint top tackler with 29, while her determined running gained her country good ground and laid the platform for winger Tara Jane Stanley’s first-half try as the Lionesses started to take control.
Busy-bee Emily Rudge, above and below, is taken to the ground after one of her many strong runs. Pictures: NRLPhotos
Cunningham made more carries than any other player on the field and produced two textbook try-saving tackles as PNG tried to find a way back into the contest.
She also stood up to be counted as acting captain following Dobson’s departure and her calmness rubbed off on the side as they adjusted well for the lost players, showed no panic, and produced enough good signs to whet the lips for Sunday’s crunch clash with hosts Australia at the same venue on Sunday.
Match Highlights from @England_RL v @PNGOrchids#ENGvPNG#WRLWC2017 pic.twitter.com/zJX8fgpZTs
— RLWC2017 (@RLWC2017) November 16, 2017
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