Wales hit by Australia century in World Cup record defeat

Australia (60) 124Tries: Kernick, Chapman 6, Church 2, Southwell, Sergis 4, Apps, Paki, Joseph 2, Upton 2, Nizza Goals: Southwell 20Wales (0) 6Tries: Travis Goals: PrestonRampant 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."