England Wheelchair head coach Tom Coyd was a happy man after a convincing opening win against New South Wales completed a successful first phase of the team’s short Australia tour.
Coyd gave all 10 of his tour squad equal game time in an 86-10 win at the Whitlam Sports Centre in western Sydney, and enthused about the welcome England have received from all they have encountered since arriving earlier this week – including the Penrith Panthers club.
“For us to be hosted by the Panthers has been incredible,” said the England coach.
“I’d say they’ve been the most successful sports club in the world for the last five years, certainly at such an elite level, but they have gone out of their way to be hospitable – including Matt Cameron, their CEO, who has been really engaged about Wheelchair Rugby League and inclusive sport.
“Obviously we’ve been battling jetlag and fatigue a little bit this week after the flight, but that was why the game against New South Wales was so important.
“It’s been almost a year since we last played as an England team, with the Test against France last November, so we needed to get out on the pitch together.
“It was great to see Finlay O’Neill and Luis Domingos in action in England jerseys for the first time, and I think we’ll wake up on Saturday morning really knowing that we’ve arrived in Australia.”
Jack Brown dominated the early stages of the match, scoring three of England’s first four tries and making another for Domingos.
Captain Lewis King and veteran Wayne Boardman also touched down, with Boardman adding five goals for a total of 14 points – although England were made to work much harder than the final scoreline suggests, with New South Wales still in the game at 6-16 after 20 minutes.
Halifax flyer Rob Hawkins stole the show after half-time with five of England’s eight second-half tries. Leeds pivot Nathan Collins plundered 20 points from a try and eight goals, Joe Coyd touched down once and there were two tries for Seb Bechara.
England head for the airport on Saturday for a flight to the Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane, the venue for Monday’s second State fixture against Queensland – the last chance for players to stake their claim for the eight places in the first Test on the Gold Coast next Thursday.
Match details
First half team – Mason Billington, Jack Brown, Wayne Boardman, Lewis King (capt), Luis Domingos.
First half scorers. Tries – Brown 3, King, Boardman, Domingos, Goals – Boardman 5.
Second half team – Finlay O’Neill, Joe Coyd, Nathan Collins, Seb Bechara, Rob Hawkins.
Second half scorers. Tries – Collins, Hawkins 5, Bechara 2, Coyd. Goals – Collins 8.
