UNDER 16 TEST MATCH

England U16 scraped a 24-18 win over a very plucky Wales side who, despite being 18-0 down after half an hour, didn't give up and could have snatched a draw right at the end. Man of the match Jordan Howells was approaching the line in an attempt to score his fifth try of the game that would have evened it up but in the end, England, who won due to their superior goal-kicking with the tries at four each, just about held on.

Wales could have taken an early lead. Howells made a fine break and won Wales a goal-line drop-out. From the next play, Kasey Hurley's grubber kick was collected and his second five minutes later went over the deadball line. But England scored on their first real attack on eight minutes when Jack Logan who sprinted 40 metres to ground. Lewis Teirney converted.

They doubled the lead from their next set when Ali Ibrahim reached over when under pressure and Teirney goaled again. There could have been a third straight after but Logan had a potential second try ruled out for a forward pass. Wales attempted a fight-back. Rhys Anderson was held short of the line and Josh Brown was pushed into touch.

But England further extended their lead just before the half hour when Ibrahim went over from short range which Teirney goaled. Wales finally broke their duck on 34 minutes when Jordan Howells scored in the corner. Kasey Hurley missed the conversion and England were 18-4 up at half-time.

The Welsh continued their comeback five minutes into the second half when Lewis Barnett set up Howells in the corner for his second with Kasey Hurley's kick hitting the post. But England struck back with an unconverted try in the corner from Harlequins' Harry Lightfoot-Brown. Wales scored again after England's Bobby Tyson-Wilson was sinbinned for a late tackle and the home team took full advantage as Howells ran through for his hat-trick which Hurley converted.

With the score at 14-22, skipper Garyn Smith almost pulled another try back but his 60 metre run ended with him being pushed into touch. However Howells did manage to reach the line with his long run for his fourth try, placed in the corner that Hurley was unable to convert. England took the two points when given a penalty under the sticks as Teirney's kick increased their lead to 24-18 and with Howells aiming for a fifth try just as the hooter went, England scraped home.

Report from Wales Rugby League.
PHOTO: www.ianlovell.com

WALES
Xavier Manaseitava, Josh Brown, Chris Leyshon, Jordan Howells, Jack McKenzie, Lewis Barnett, Kasey Hurley, Elliot Sebastyen-Regan, Connor Farrer, Rhys Fitzgerald, Curtis Davies, Garyn Smith, Rhys Anderson. Subs: Lloyd Paget, Adam Hill, James Little, Lewis Morgan, Rhys Bow

ENGLAND
Lewis Tierney, Jordan Harper, Ali Ibrahim, Harry Lightfoot Brown, Jack Logan, Ben White, Kyle Dempsey, Zak Dewhirst, Jake Dehal Clark, Bobby Tyson-Wilson, Bradley Lawrence, Kane Ditchfield, Jack Anderson. Subs: Joe Keyes, Matthew Marsh, Connor Taylor, Ryan Langton, Oliver Davies