UNDER-18 INTERNATIONAL

A 79th minute penalty gave France U18 a famous victory against England Academy at the Stade Albert Domec in Carcassonne on Saturday. Despite conceding the first two tries of the match the French had been the progressively stronger team and were in control for much of the second half, with the visitors kept in front through two tries against the run of play.

Played in wintry conditions in the south of France, the match saw England score after three minutes, then add a second soon afterwards, much to the delight of the visiting English fans. A French fightback closed the game to 18-22 at the break.

On 51 minutes the “Bleuets” went in front after a penalty and a try. Then, on the hour, Lucas Albert, one of 12 Catalan Academy players in the squad, converted his own try to put the French firmly in the lead. The English struck back to set up Albert for his ice-cool finish.

FRANCE U18
Castany Bruno, Bergal Ilias, Paul Izzard, Arthur Romano, Gavin Margueritte, Lucas Albert, Etienne Ferret, Lambert Belmas, Alrix Da Costa, Nicolas Pomie, Jordan Dezaria, Franck Maria, Mickaël Goudemand. Subs: Quentin Quemener, Paul Seguier, Levy N’zoungou, Fabien Jullien

ENGLAND ACADEMY
Lewis Heckford, Frederick Bailey, Harvey Livett, Max Jowitt, Jack Higginson, Harry Tyson, Jordan Lilley, Sam Hallas, Josh Ganson, Matthew English, Macauley Davies, Liam Johnson, Kyle Shelford, Aaron Smith, Jake Moore, Jack Wells, Jordan Crowther