A FULL World Cup right on your doorstep? How could you possibly miss it?
Having witnessed the passion, quality and inspirational value of the Physical Disability Rugby League (PDRL) World Cup first hand, I can safely tell you that you definitely shouldn’t.
In this most inclusive of Rugby League World Cups being held in our region, this clash of the four PDRL powerhouses is perhaps the clearest signal of all that rugby league truly is a game for everyone.
And what can be said for certain is that Warrington has taken this slightly modified but equally impactful version of the game the town loves to its hearts.
The Warrington Wolves Charitable Foundation were pioneers and trendsetters in terms of bringing PDRL to England, so it was only fitting that the sport’s first ever gathering of nations
After a packed crowd watched the opening fixtures on Sunday, particularly the marquee fixture between hosts England and an Australia side featuring Warrington PDRL’s most famous son Adam Hills, fans once again flocked to Victoria Park on this unseasonably warm Tuesday afternoon.
The grandstand was pretty much full for the meeting of the two winners from the first round of games.
England were looking to back up their 58-6 thrashing of the Aussies while Wales were skipping after a late fightback saw them beat New Zealand 28-26.
These two sides could well find themselves meeting again in Sunday’s final – to be played at The Halliwell Jones Stadium following the men’s group stage game between Samoa and France – and on this evidence, it would certainly be a game worth staying behind for.
It had everything you could want in a game of rugby league and perhaps that is the keenest observation.
Yes, the participants have varying levels of physical disability but they never let it show on the field. This was simply a rugby league match, and a pretty good one at that.
The hits were meaty and there was the kind of needle you would expect from an England-Wales fixture, plus some of the tries scored were incredible.
The two second-half scores from Connor Lynes that allowed England to stretch out to an ultimately comfortable 32-6 scoreline were particularly eye-catching as the Wakefield Trinity player showed great speed to outstrip the defence.
Skipper Scott Gobin, who plays his club rugby with Leeds Rhinos, was powerful and ended up with two tries as Adam Fleming and Peter Clarke also touched down.
Wales did briefly lead 6-4 thanks to a converted Paul Jones try, with Leif Thobroe arguably their stand-out player.
Unfortunately, the two Warrington Wolves PDRL players on show saw their afternoons ended early – shortly after a scorching long-range break that so nearly ended with a try, Mike Addison had to be carried off after picking up an injury while a high tackle meant Adam Morris finished the game in the sin bin.
The result means England are likely to be in the final while the three other nations will fight it out to join them.
What happens on the field forms only a small part of what this tournament is about, however.
Yes, all four sides want to get their hands on the trophy on Sunday but there is a bigger picture to consider.
Whether they are victorious or not, every single player who takes part can say they have been part of a world first and hopefully the start of something continuous.
This is just the latest step in PDRL’s continued exponential growth, and Warrington can proudly say it has played a central role.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here