Jamaica vs Scotland : 2021

Pic: Reggae Warriors

At Featherstone in England, a match was played between these two and in a time period when the World Cup should have been played, it was nice to have a few internationals held.

Jamaica took an early advantage with a 10-0 lead but Scotland rallied and by half time it was 24-10 to the Scotland side. A Reggae Warriors sin binning may have helped there. Then progressing to 30-10 and it looked like a one sided game was unfolding. However, a late rally by the Raggae Warriors and a sin binning of a Scotland player helped bring the scores even at 30-30. Jamaica scored six tries to five but failed to take the game.

So an entertaining match concluded and it's a shame that a few more international tests couldn't have been played at this time. A postponed WC shouldn't have sent the international scene into virtual hibernation. 

England vs France Men's & Women's Internationals : 2021

23.10.2021. A double header with both the women and men taking the field in Perpignan, France. In one French media source, the crowd attendance was given as 7,000. 

Women: The local lasses are about to start their season whereas the visitors from England had just finished theirs so that immediately gave an advantage to England. Working against them, the England squad are amateur and also have full time jobs so they travelled over on the day of the match after a very early start. England were overwhelming favourites regardless of the pros and cons.

After some scrappy play early, England took the initiative and led 16-0 at the break. England were clearly sharper, especially in attack and at 40-0 with seconds to go, a shutout was on the cards but a last gasp try gave the French side some consolation. Final score: England won 40-4.

Men: With the last game between the two sides back in 2018 when England won 44-6 in Leigh, England, it was hard to be sure of the size of the result but an England victory almost a certainty. 

That's how the first 20 minutes panned out as England rattled up a point a minute. From there did England get complacent or did France lift. Perhaps it was a mixture of both? Whatever the reason, the game evened out and was close thereafter. No more points were added in the first half and France shared the second half 10-10. Final score: England won 30-10.

Summary: What a great initiative and well done for all those who made it happen. There needs to be more European competition in men's and women's RL, including a full England side and other nations such as Ireland, Jamaica, Scotland and Wales. That would make a tidy six team competition. It could build from there. Pics: Sky Sports UK.

Women's International : Wales vs Ireland

Pic: RL Wales. 

With my limited knowledge of the teams, I would have said before the game that Wales would take this match. The encounter took place at Colwyn Bay, in North Wales. As for the home squad, most of the players were drawn from teams domiciled in Wales with a few from English teams. This was their fourth game as a national team and the second full international. 

According to the Ireland RL website, this was their inaugural international, the team only formed a matter of months ago. In their favour was the ability to choose players with Betfred Super League, Championship Super League South experience in England (heritage players I presume). There is obviously the Irish Championship also to draw upon.

In what turned out to be a tight match, Ireland held a slender 10-8 lead at the turnaround and went on to lead 26-16. Wales mounted a comeback but in the end, it wasn't enough with Ireland winning 26-24. Wales scored six tries to five but none were converted. On the other hand, Ireland landed three goals. 

So a result I wasn't expecting but well done to all concerned in organising the match and to the players who participated. I'm not sure of the attendance.