Davies suffers worrying blow

Rugby League

DAVE HADFIELD

reports from Cardiff

Wales 28 France 6

Jonathan Davies could have played his last game of rugby league for Wales, after being taken to hospital with suspected concussion in the second-half of a convincing Halifax Centenary World Cup victory for the side he captains.

Davies, being sought by Cardiff for a return to rugby union after the tournament, took a heavy knock during the build-up to France's only try and was taken for a precautionary X-ray.

The Welsh coach, Clive Griffiths, was at pains to emphasise that Davies' concussion appeared mild. Serious concussion carries a mandatory 14-day stand-down period which would take Davies beyond the semi-finals of the competition.

Davies' injury apart it was a satisfying evening for Wales with the St Helens winger, Anthony Sullivan, scoring the tournament's first hat-trick.

And although Western Samoa still stand between them and the semi-finals of the competition, a crowd of 10,250 - the biggest at Ninian Park since an FA Cup tie against Manchester City two seasons ago - saw Wales show every sign that they can make progress.

The strike power of Kelvin Skerrett and Paul Moriarty, the probing of Kevin Ellis and the running of Iestyn Harris were all too much for France, while Sullivan confirmed his reputation as one of the best finishers in the game with tries in the 24th, 38th and 47th minutes.

Bateman had a try disallowed for failing to ground the ball, but straight away John Devereux went over for Wales' fifth try.

Davies had kicked Wales into the lead after five minutes, when the French loose forward, Thierry Valero, conceded a penalty by dropping late on him in the tackle.

France had been worried about the health of their captain and scrum-half, Patrick Entat, but he looked his usual lively self when he backed up a break from Pascal Fages and only Scott Gibbs' close attention stopped him getting his pass away in a dangerous position.

There was little sign that the game's other scrum-half, Ellis, had not played for several weeks and does not even have a British club. His break set up Gibbs for a drive at the line which France stopped just short. The pressure, however, yielded an off-side penalty goaled by Davies.

Wales, with Skerrett leading an increasingly dominant pack, were turning the screw by this stage. Moving the ball wide in exemplary fashion, Davies, Harris, and Allan Bateman all handled at top speed to send Anthony Sullivan in at the corner.

Wales could have extended their lead when Davies surprised France by taking play down the blind side instead of kicking on the last tackle and Gibbs was held only just short. A try was not long delayed, Sullivan again showing his opportunism by taking Harris' pass to score.

Seven minutes after the break, Sullivan completed his hat-trick, benefiting from Ellis' run and Davies' linking pass.

Wales were now so firmly in command that they could afford to take off Skerrett, their most damaging forward, but there was a moment of slackness when Entat put Torreilles over for France's first points.

The prospect of a comeback lasted only as long as Harris took to run through from half-way, adding the conversion himself.

n Wales face an enquiry today into whether they broke the tournament rules by apparently using five substitutes against France. The video of the match will be viewed but there is no mandatory punishment laid down for such an infringement.

WALES: Harris (Warrington); Devereux (Widnes), Bateman (Cronulla), Gibbs (St Helens), Sullivan (St Helens); Davies (Warrington), Ellis (North Queensland); Skerrett (Wigan), Hall (Wigan), Young (Salford), Moriarty (Halifax), Perrett (Halifax), Eyres (Leeds). Substitutes: Hadley (Widnes) for Bateman 46, Jones (Warrington) for Skerrett 48, Bateman for Davies 57, Cunningham (St Helens) for Hall 60, Phillips (Workington) for Moriarty 70.

FRANCE: Despin (Villeneuve); Banquet (Sheffield), Fraisse (Workington), Chamorin (St Esteve), Garcia (St Esteve); Fages (Pia), Entat (Avignon); Cabestany (Catalan), Torreilles (Pia), Teixido (Limoux), Tallec (Wigan), Jampy (St Esteve), Valero (Lezignan). Substitute: Coles (Catalan) for Despin 19; Jaavuo (Pia) for Teixido 54, Hebert (Pia) for Jampy 68; Banet (Limoux) for Torreilles, 71.

Referee: E Ward (Australia).

World Cup update

GROUP THREE: Wales (12) 28, France (0) 6. Wales: Tries Sullivan 3, Devereux, Harris; Goals Davies 3, Harris. France: Try Torreilles; Goals Banquet. (10,250) (at Ninian Park, Cardiff).

Today's fixtures

GROUP ONE: Australia v South Africa (8.15) (at Gateshead International stadium).

GROUP TWO: Papua New Guinea v Tonga (6.15pm) (at The Boulevard, Hull).