Players from Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s PDRL team have helped England PDRL make a winning start to their PDRL World Cup campaign against Australia and Wales to book their place in the Final.
Rhinos players Harvey Redmonds, Peter Clarke, Sam Zellar, Tommy Pouncey, Scott Gobin, Nick Horner and Nick Leigh all made history as part of the first ever England squad to compete in the first PDRL World Cup and were coached by Rhinos player/coach Dan Roberts.
In the opening game of the tournament, which was televised live on BBC, Zellar scored two tries and five goals and Leigh also crossed for a try to help his team to a massive 58-6 win.
They followed this up with another impressive performance against Wales, which was led by player of the match Nick Leigh. England took an early lead through Wakefield’s Adam Fleming and they finished the first half with two quick tries from Gobin and Clarke to make it 14-6. England took control in the second half and Zellar converted two tries from Castleford’s Connor Lynes and then Gobin added his second to see England secure their place in the final with a 32-6 win.
What a performance from Rhinos #PDRL player Sam Zellar yesterday for England PDRL!
— Leeds Rhinos Foundation (@RugbyLeeds) October 24, 2022
2⃣ tries and 5⃣ goals to help his side to a 58-6 win over Australia PDRL in the @RLWC2021 🏴
Well done to all the players involved in the historic game.#ChangingLivesThroughSport #PDRL pic.twitter.com/fGPhAsH8Wl
🗣️ Hear the post match thoughts of Nick Leigh, who was named as the Player of the Match… pic.twitter.com/SGWhEYvxMs
— Rugby Football League (@TheRFL) October 25, 2022
The Welsh side featured Rhinos players Dylan Young and Chris Young, who had scored the first ever try for Wales PDRL in their opening game against New Zealand.
🗣️ “It was definitely a tough game, we definitely had to grind the whole game out. We made it hard for ourselves, but credit to Wales they are a really tough team.”
— Rugby Football League (@TheRFL) October 25, 2022
🏴 Sam Zellar spoke after the England PDRL’s 32-6 victory in their second @RLWC2021 match! pic.twitter.com/olzaJBR9qW
England will now play New Zealand on Friday 28th October at Victoria Park before Sunday’s Final and Wales will play Australia on Friday 28th October at 7pm. If Wales come away with the win in that game it would set up a Final against England.
All games are free to watch on the Rugby League World Cup App.