By Ian Golden

In a titanic battle between the two nations, England Lions edged out Wales 34-32.
 
Wales took the lead on eight minutes. It was all created by Junior Westwood who made a 70-metre run before being tackled. Tyler Sykes was yellow carded on the next tackle, then Wales made use of the extra man straight away with Jake Nottingham scoring in the corner. Ethan Paterson couldn’t convert.
 
Only a try-saving tackle on Joseph Johnson, that looked to many like a shoulder charge, prevented Wales from doubling their lead straight away.
 
This proved to be a major turning point in the game and instead it was England who levelled. Kian Goodhand went over in the corner. Stanley Beaumont’s kick put them 6-4 up.
 
And as soon as Sykes returned to the field, he scored, on the end of another good passing move. Beaumont couldn’t convert but England were now 10-4 up.
 
From kick-off, it was 16-4. Zavier Dele Charley scored under the sticks and Zak Mannion converted.
 
England now looked unstoppable. Nathaniel Parker was over from the next set with Mannion’s kick hitting the post.
 
And just before half-time, a good run from Jayden Aaron increased their lead to 24-4.
 
Wales stormed out of the blocks in the second half and there was just a minute gone when Paterson scored the opening try but he couldn’t add the extras.
 
From the next set, Wales scored their third try as Jacob Jones dived over in the corner. Paterson converted well.
 
The comeback continued. Harri Jacob scored under the sticks and Paterson converted.
 
And they levelled just after the hour when Samuel Dickenson dived in under the sticks. Paterson’s kick gave them the lead again.
 
Skipper Jake Nottingham extended Wales’ advantage five minutes later. Junior Westwood converted.
 
England hit back with 10 minutes remaining through Lucas Mulqueeney with Mannion converting.
 
And the same player gave his side the lead back from the next set with an unconverted try.
 
Wales were attacking in the final minute but couldn’t break through for a winner.

WALES U16
1 Kai Sengul (Aber Valley Wolves/Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni)
2 Joseph Johnson (Cardiff Blue Dragons/Corpus Christi High School)
3 Sam Grice (York Acorn/Manor CE Academy)
4 Jake Nottingham (Bridgend Blue Bulls/Ysgol Dyffryn Amman)
5 Jacob Jones (Bridgend Blue Bulls/Strade School)
6 Junior Westwood (Crosfields/Great Sankey High School)
7 Henry Parker (Aber Valley Wolves/Llanishen High School)
8 Harri Jacob (Torfaen Tigers/Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw)
9 Finlay Walker (Aber Valley Wolves/Y Pant Comprehensive School)
10 Nathan Davies (Bridgend Blue Bulls/Ysgol Maes Y Gwendraeth)
11 Kaden Johnson (Crosfields/Great Sankey High School)
12 Ethan Paterson (Aber Valley Wolves/Islwyn High School)
13 Kade Woodward (Torfaen Tigers/Ysgol Gymraeg Gwmraeg Gwynllyw)
Subs:
14 Leo Bonham (Bridgend Blue Bulls/Pontarddulais Comprehensive School)
15 Samuel Dickenson (Woolston Rovers/St. Ambrose College)
16 Morgan Marozzelli (Aber Valley Wolves/Blackwood Comprehensive School)
17 Charlie Bennett (Torfaen Tigers/Ebbw Fawr Learning Community)
18 Owain Martin (Bridgend Blue Bulls/Ysgol Bryntawe)
19 Jacob Morris (Cynon Valley Cavaliers/Aberdare Community School)
22 Jake Sheppard (Torfaen Tigers/Islwyn High School)
 
Tries: Nottingham (8, 65), Paterson (41), Jones (45), Jacob (56), Dickenson (61)
Goals: Paterson 3/5, Westwood 1/1
 
ENGLAND U16
1 Jaylen Conway (Hensingham)
22 Tyler Sykes (Dewsbury Celtic)
2 Diego Walker (Leigh Miners Rangers)
4 Kian Goodhand (West Hull)
5 Oliver Shallcross (West Hull)
6 Jack Bibey (Leigh Miners Rangers)
7 Nathaniel Parker (West Bank Bears)
8 Arben Pervizaj (Hensingham)
14 Stanley Beaumont (Hull Wyke)
10 Alfie Cox (Wath Brow Hornets)
11 Henley Donnan (Hensingham)
12 Alex Golightly (Bentley ARLFC)
13 Layton Dockray (Wath Brow Hornets)
Subs:
9 Lucas Mulqueeney (Crosfields)
15 Lloyd Stainton (Egremont Rangers)
16 Jayden Aaron (Ashton Bears)
17 Zak Mannion (West Bank Bears)
18 Zavier Dele Charley (Salford City Roosters)
19 Lewis Pilling (Blackbrook Royals)
 
Tries: Goodhand (14), Sykes (19), Charley (22), Parker (24), Aaron (40), Mulqueeney (69, 74)
Goals: Beaumont 1/2, Mannion 2/4, Sykes 0/1