Wales will be seeking to restore some pride when they bring their desperately disappointing World Cup campaign
to a close in Neath on Sunday.
Iestyn Harrisâ men were strongly fancied to top their group and secure a home quarter-final in Wrexham but back-to-back defeats by the qualifiers â USA and Italy â undermined
much of the good work undertaken by Wales Rugby League over the last five years.
Their 24-16 defeat to the Tomahawks came in front of a bumper crowd of 8,019 at the Racecourse Ground, which may struggle to match that for Saturdayâs last-eight meeting between the US and tournament favourites Australia.
Harrisâ
immediate concern is to bow out on a high against the Cook Islands in a
âdead rubberâ at The Gnoll (2pm) which he still sees as an opportunity to cash in on the interest generated by the World Cup.
Harris said: âWeâve trained well this week and, although we canât now make the quarter-finals, we want to go out on a win.
âWeâre
pleased that weâve managed to play games at the homes of both North Wales Crusaders and now South Wales Scorpions and we know that the crowds for these games will be about 10 times their normal attendances.
âSo
if anything, a good performance from us will hopefully bring new fans into the Scorpions next season – and that can oblt be good for the game in Wales.â
Harris kicked seven goals when Wales beat the Cook Islands 38-6 in their last meeting at the 2000 World Cup but a repeat of that success is by no means guaranteed.
The Islanders were valiant in a 22-16 defeat by Tonga in midweek and coach David Fairleigh, the former St Helens forward, says his team have history in their sights.
âGetting the Cook Islandsâ first ever World Cup win is a big thing for all of us, and
thatâs what the boys have been focusing on all week,â said Farleigh.
The
game will bring the curtain down on the Wales careers of Salford prop Jordan James â who will equal the record 30th cap mark of Ian Watson â and and former London Broncos hooker Neil Budworth.
James
Dan Fleming (Castleford), Rob Massam (North Wales) and Danny Jones (Keighley) are all named for the first time in the tournament.
Article source: http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/womensrugby/newsid=2068571.html
Rugby League: Wales aim to restore pride against Cook Islands
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