Toronto Wolfpack celebrated their first Kingstone Press League 1 game on home soil with a 62-12 win over Oxford on Saturday Evening.
Over 6,000 fans piled into the Lamport Stadium to witness history being made and the Canadian side duly responded as they raced to a 34-0 lead after tries from Blake Wallace, Andrew Dixon, Jonny Pownall, Richard Whiting (2) and Ryan Brierley.
Casey Canterbury finally touched down for Oxford but Toronto finished the half on top as Dixon scored his second to put them 40-6 up at half-time.
Wolfpack’s dominance continued into the second half with tries from Craig Hall, Greg Worthington, Brierley, Pownall and Ryan Burroughs. Canterbury scored Oxford’s other try in the second half.
👇 Les coulisses de la première victoire du @TOwolfpack, la toute première équipe professionnelle transatlantique, en sol canadien. #Rugby pic.twitter.com/MrmqEaFHn7
— Radio-Canada Sports (@RC_Sports) May 8, 2017
Toronto’s Jake Emmitt was sent off in the second half after striking an opponent as he left the field, having just been sin-binned.
Wolfpack coach Paul Rowley was delighted with the turnout from the Toronto fans, saying: “You can see how it's going to build into something magnificent.
“The fans love it. A bit of everything as promised. So we delivered, they delivered. And welcome rugby league to Canada.
“We always labelled it as the best-kept secret and now the secret's out of the box. I think it's a win-win.”
The March has arrived at Lamport Stadium! #RunWithThePack #RugbyLeague @TOwolfpack pic.twitter.com/hmJh2opzR2
— Toronto Guardian (@TORGuardian) May 6, 2017
Unbeaten Barrow Raiders remain in second in League 1 behind Toronto on points difference, after they cruised past pointless South Wales Ironmen 58-16 on Saturday.
Ryan Fieldhouse scored a hat-trick for the Cumbrians, with Nathan Mossop getting two. Thomas Loxam, Joe Bullock, Ryan Johnston, James Duerden, Danny Morrow and Karl Ashall scored the Raiders’ other tries.
Ironmen’s tryscorers were Sion Jones, Jamie I’Anson and Connor Farrer.
FULL-TIME - Barrow Raiders 58 - @IronmenRL 16 #UpTheRaiders
— Barrow Raiders (@BarrowRaiders) May 6, 2017
Whitehaven remain third after a 34-20 win over Newcastle Thunder on Sunday.
Their tryscorers were Elliott Miller, Jordan Burns, Scott McAvoy (2), Carl Forster and Paul Crook. Ali Blair crossed twice for Newcastle, with Rhys Clarke scoring their third.
Hunslet are fourth after recording a 36-26 win over North Wales Crusaders at South Leeds Stadium. Jimmy Watson, Lewis Reed, Jake Normington, Cameron Leeming, George Flanagan (2) and Danny Ansell scored for the hosts.
Crusaders’ scorers were Ryan Smith, Danny Price, Ryan Millington, Earl Hurst and Jack Hansen.
TRY | Captain fantastic Dave Williams barges through to bring the scores to 28-26 #IAMASKOLAR pic.twitter.com/Gq9wjlGvlv
— London Skolars 🎓🉠(@LondonSkolarsRL) May 7, 2017
Dave Williams’ 73rd minute try saw London Skolars rescue a 28-28 draw at Doncaster.
Sadiq Adebiyi scored a hat-trick for Skolars with Sam Nash scoring their first try of the game. Doncaster’s Jason Tali also scored a hat-trick, with Kyle Kesik and Louis Sheriff scoring their others.
Mike Emmett, Hamish Barnes, Andy Gabriel Brad Nicholson, Harry Aaronson, Scott Law, Brendon Rawlins and Will Milner scored for Keighley Cougars, as they won 44-24 away at Coventry Bears.
Michael Russell scored a hat-trick for Coventry, with Harry Chapman bagging a brace for the Bears.
All the results from League 1 this weekend as both @TOwolfpack and @BarrowRaiders remain unbeaten pic.twitter.com/MKFNWlK7lG
— Championships-RL (@RLChampionships) May 7, 2017
Nick Rawsthorne was another hat-trick scorer, as York City Knights cruised to a 56-10 win over University of Gloucestershire All Golds.
York’s other tryscorers were Joe Batchelor, Ronan Dixon, Ash Robson, Will Jubb, David Foggin-Johnston, Liam Harris and Ed Smith.
Workington Town moved up to eighth after a big 66-18 win over strugglers Hemel Stags in Sunday’s other game.
