WARRINGTON players will be among those internationals who go down in history for all the wrong reasons after a dramatic and heartbreaking weekend, although one incoming Wire player has every reason to be cheerful.
While Wolves' Blake Austin, Jack Hughes, Gareth Widdop, Chris Hill and Joe Philbin were in the first Great Britain side to suffer defeat against Papua New Guinea, two England women's teams were involved in firsts too.
Wire's Joe Philbin gets stuck into Papua New Guinea. Picture: SpidertekPNG/SWpix.com
READ: Great Britain lose to PNG in Port Moresby
The scene in Port Moresby on Saturday. Picture: SpidertekPNG/SWpix.com
Warringtonians Jodie Cunningham, Emily Rudge and Tara Jones were unable to help prevent Papua New Guinea Orchids from winning a Test match for the first time, in what was a thrilling curtain-raiser to the GB men's clash with the Kumuls in Port Moresby on Saturday.
England Women line up for God Save The Queen. Picture: SpidertekPNG/SWpix.com
Nearer to home, four Warrington Wolves Women players - Michelle Davis, Keira McCosh, Rebekah Wilson and Dani Bound - were in England's new second-tier side that lost at Ruskin Park in St Helens to Wales, who celebrated their first ever win.
In the clash against the Orchids, England captain Rudge scored one of the two tries that squared matters after the tourists had trailed 16-6.
Jodie Cunningham, right, joins in try celebrations for England. Picture: SpidertekPNG/SWpix.com
The former Cardinal Newman High School student, a schoolteacher who plays her club rugby at St Helens, outmuscled three Orchids defenders to get the ball down.
England went on to lose to a Shirley Joe try, though the Orchids' win was marred somewhat by a biting allegation made by Rudge in the first half which referee Chris Butler put on report.
Emily Rudge during the wrm-up in Port Moresby. Picture: SpidertekPNG/SWpix.com
Rudge had scored four tries a week earlier when England beat PNG 24-10 in Goroka.
Although defeat was suffered by England Lions against Wales, Warrington winger Davis came out of the contest with a lot of credit.
She scored the opening try at the home of Pilkington Recs, kicked a conversion and ended the 24-20 loss as England's player-of-the-match.
Proud and humbled to have played today. Got the first ever try and I was voted player of the match by both teams 💪
— Michelle Davis (@M1chelleDavis) November 16, 2019
Was an absolute pleasure to play alongside the girls, proud of everyone regardless of the result. Season done over and out 🏴💛💙🏉🦁 @lions_rl @WarringtonRLFC pic.twitter.com/xHViIUQc8O
The incoming Wire player who will be in a cheery mood is Anthony Gelling.
He got over the try line as the Cook Islands defeated the United States 38-16 at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville to claim the last available place at the 2021 World Cup.
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