England crush Women’s World Cup debutants Wales

England began their Women’s Rugby League World Cup campaign with a 70-6 win over debutants Wales in Perth. Wales briefly threatened an upset by scoring first, but England’s response underlined their status as strong contenders aiming to reach their first World Cup final.

England scored 13 tries, including hat-tricks from Anna Davies and debutant Connie Boyd, while Izzy Rowe scored twice and kicked nine goals. Rowe’s 26 points equalled the record for an individual England player in a Women’s World Cup match. Paige Travis scored Wales’ first try at a Rugby League World Cup; Wales had played only 13 internationals as a nation and had lost their previous two meetings with England by a combined 144-0.