UNDER-18 INTERNATIONAL

The England Academy fell to a 41-10 defeat to the Australian Schoolboys in the first Test at Canberra’s Bruce Stadium earlier today. The tourists were outscored by seven tries to two in a game which saw them fail to replicate the form that had seen them record wins over New South Wales and Parramatta Juniors in previous weeks.

England got off to a bright start and were in control of a very physical game until the 17 minute mark, when Australian winger Jack Goodsell managed to round his opposite man and cross under the posts. The Schoolboys then shot into sixth gear as England struggled to respond and the home side quickly opened up a 24-0 margin within a whirlwind ten minute spell. Hooker Brad Deitz found himself crossing the line on the 20 minute mark after he found a gap to squeeze through under the posts and just four minutes later centre Paul Simona was adjudged to have touched the ball down in the corner despite dubious calls from the sidelines.

On the 30 minute mark half-back Mitchell Moses stepped inside two defenders to add his name to the scorers list and give the Aussies a commanding lead. England centre Luke Briscoe managed to get the Academy on the board with five minutes remaining in the half, when he showed a touch of class to out muscles two defenders and power his way over.

The second half began in a similar fashion to the first with both sides embroiled in a physical battle which the Academy side were dominating, but it was a case of déjà vu as Australia scored first through Moses, who gathered a chip through to cross in clear space. The speedy half-back then completed a hat-trick when he pounded on an English error.

England’s James Saltonstall scored the try of the game with ten minutes left on the clock when he was on hand to outsmart the defence and complete an 80 meter effort, after Ben Currie had burst through a gap from his own 20 meter line but it was scant consolation as Australia responded almost instantaneously through winger Willis Meehan who profited from another error.  A drop-goal from half-back Moses in the final minute put the finishing gloss on a 41-10 victory for the Schoolboys.

Pictured: Mitchell Moses slides in for one of this three tries.
Photo credit: Our Footy Team.

AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLBOYS
Alex Johnston, Jack Goodsell, Clint Gutherson, Paul Simona, Willis Meehan, Mitchell Moses, Luke Brooks, Matthew Lodge, Brad Deitz, Jeremy Cropper, Kelepi Tanginoa, Adam Elliot, Chad McGill. Subs: Dylan Walker, Chris Smith, Jai Arrow, Pauli Pauli

ENGLAND ACADEMY
Lewis Tierney, James Saltonstall, Luke Briscoe John Ford, Joe Burgess, Ryan Hampshire, George Williams, Liam McAvoy, Dominic Speakman, Gavin Bennion, John Bateman, Connor Farrell, Ben Currie. Subs: Luke Thompson, Ryan Sutton, Jordan Baldwinson, Josh Johnson