South Wales Jets win rugby league wheelchair league in their first season

Penallta-based South Wales Jets have won the Wales Rugby League’s Wheelchair League in their first-ever season.

The side ended the season with a 100% record after beating Cardiff Blue Dragons 98-18 in the final, which was played in Llandrindod Wells.

They’d previously beaten North Wales Crusaders 34-30, Cardiff 78-18, and Aber Valley Wolves 60-10 in the group stages of the competition.

The players’ ages ranged from 13 to 53 in the Jets side, as the sport is open to all ages and genders.

The second youngest player in the final line-up, Hannah White of Lewis School Pengam, hit over the final conversion of the game, whilst Parker Golden of Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni also played in the Jets side.

Father and son duo Jason and Jamie Reynolds dominated much of the game, as they have the season.

Jason scored seven tries, whilst Jamie scored five and kicked five conversions. In wheelchair rugby league, a conversion is ‘kicked’ with the hand from a waist-high tee. Jamie, 20, finished top of the try and goal scoring charts in the league this season, with his dad in second place in both categories.

Leighton Morris, the side’s oldest player, scored four tries, while Welsh internationals Brogan Evans and Mark Williams each chipped in with one. Williams also scored six conversions.

For Cardiff, captain Libbie Sargent scored a try and conversion, her brother Lee Sargent also scored one, as did Charlie Puddick and Jess Booth.

South Wales Jets will now continue playing friendly matches through the spring and summer before a cup competition starts in the autumn. All players aged 16 and over are also eligible to try out for the Wales side, who are playing in the World Cup in Australia this autumn.