UNDER 16 TEST MATCH

On Tuesday night in Albi, France under-16s confirmed their superiority over England with a five tries-to-two victory, built on a memorable second half display. The win, following Friday's 28-22 victory, was France’s fifth victory against England in the last six matches at U16 level.

In grim conditions, a determined England side laid siege early to the French line, but despite long bouts of pressure could only score once, on the stroke of halftime. That try came in response to French hooker Matthieu Amoros’s 19^th minute opener, in Les Bleuets’ one spell inside England’s red zone in the first half. Scrum half Evan Albert’s 22^nd minute field goal gave the home side a slender three-point halftime advantage.

The tightly contested first half belied the second period, in which Man Fauvel’s charges cut loose, racing to a 31-4 lead before England scored close to the end – on an interception as France looked to inflict more damage. Man of the match Amoros completed his hat-trick on the 53^rd minute, his two tries sandwiching second row Benjamin Jullien’s 49^th minute score. Amine Miloudi, so reliable in the first Test, kicked four of five conversions, and two later field goals to cap a magnificent team performance.

FRANCE U16
MILOUDI Amine - GELLET Fabien, YAHA Fouad, REMOK Djamel, MARCON Paul - (o) JOUFFRET Louis, (m) ALBERT Evan - ZINE Fahed, AMOROS Mathieu, ZENTRI Mohamed - JULLIEN Benjamin, GOUDEMAND Mickaël - MAURY Quentin. Subs: YESA Valentin, AGULLO Julien, DENAT Dorian, NZOUNGOU Levy

ENGLAND YOUTH