Wales hit by Australia century in World Cup record defeat

Australia (60) 124

Tries: Kernick, Chapman 6, Church 2, Southwell, Sergis 4, Apps, Paki, Joseph 2, Upton 2, Nizza Goals: Southwell 20

Wales (0) 6

Tries: Travis Goals: Preston

Rampant Australia racked up the biggest score in international history as they hammered Wales in a Rugby League World Cup mismatch.

The Jillaroos, hunting a fourth successive title, ran in 21 tries in a predictably lopsided contest in Sydney.

The half-time score of 60-0 was the biggest of any World Cup match - men's or women's - and the Australians kept their foot down to win 124-6.

Wing Jaime Chapman's sixth try in the last minute ensured they beat Denmark men's biggest international score of 122-8 against Sweden in 2012.

The 118-point victory margin is the largest in any women's match, although France men retain their record win set in 2003 with a 120-0 rout of Serbia.

Yet there were wild Wales celebrations when, at 100-0 down, they became the first side to score against the Jillaroos in the tournament through Paige Travis.

It all came after Wales, whose captain Bethan Dainton was the tournament's top tackler by a distance in the first two rounds with 77, rose to the occasion with a strong start.

But Australia struck in the sixth minute through lock Olivia Kernick following prop Makenzie Weale's terrific offload out the back, and the Jillaroos then clicked into gear.

Long-striding, hard-fending Chapman scored a double down the left and fellow wing Abbi Church powered through weak tackles on the right.

Wales were unable to string together good moments and a fifth try came through Jesse Southwell from failure to claim a regulation high ball just seconds after Jade Mullen had put in a huge tackle.

Australia were ruthless and the scores kept coming through centre Jessica Sergis, second row Kezie Apps and Chapman for a first-half hat-trick.

Sergis brought up the half-century with a weaving run and was followed over by second row Sariah Paki.

The stats told the story - Australia had 84% of possession in the first half and completed 21 of 22 sets, with almost 13 minutes of possession to two minutes and 29 seconds.

It took just over a minute for Keilee Joseph to get the scoreboard ticking after the restart and the scores kept coming from Sergis, Chapman, Joseph again and Church.

The Jillaroos beat their 92-0 record, set against France in the 2022 World Cup, when Southwell converted Sergis' fourth try, hitting three figures when the extras were added to star full-back Tamika Upton's breakaway.

Wales' moment came when Travis, scorer of their historic try against England, won the race to Tayla Preston's kick through.

It was only a brief change of pattern with Keeley Nizza, Chapman twice and Upton going over to complete the destruction.

Wales captain Bethan Dainton said:

"We just wanted to create a legacy back home for young girls coming through, and I think we did that. The scorelines haven't been in our favour but no one gave up and I am so proud of the girls."