UNDER 18 REPRESENTATIVE MATCH

Despite a strong start from Wales under 18, when their English Lions counterparts, drawn from the amateur ranks, got going, there was no stopping them and the Lions went from 8-0 down to cruise home 42-14.

Both sides had early chances. England’s Alex Prince was close to scoring but pressure from the Welsh back-line forced him to knock-on at the play-the-ball. Then at the other end, Wales also set up good attacking play but, close to the line, strong English tackling forced a knock-on from Welsh skipper Connor Davies. Wales scored from their next attack as Marcus Webb forced his way through but Zak Williams sliced the conversion wide.

They extended their lead three minutes later when Shane Lee kicked well to create a good move that ended in Lewys Willacott scoring in the corner. Again Williams couldn’t land the extras and Wales were 8-0 up. England fought back on 25 minutes after Dean Rooney dived over from dummy half and Connor Turner converted well to bring the score back to 8-6. And straight from kick-off they took the lead through an excellent individual score from Alex Prince, beating off a number of Welsh lads before placing the ball under the sticks. Turner added the extras again to give England a 12-8 lead.

The visitors extended their lead six minutes before the break when Calvin Parker did well to barge over and score. Turner converted to give his side a 10-point advantage. There was still time for England to get a fourth as full-back Jake Callum went over in the corner with Turner converting to give them a 24-8 half-time lead.

A Jacob Moore try straight from kick-off in the second half extended their lead. Turner’s kick made the score 30-8. Josh Oakes followed him over seven minutes later and Turner again coolly converted to bring the score up to 36-8. Joey Brady made a clean break through for England’s seventh try just before the hour with Turner easily keeping up his 100% record.

Wales weren’t finished yet. Morgan Jeffries scored in the corner and Webb converted to bring the score back to 14-42. But no side could break through for any further scores in the last 18 minutes of the game. England were odds on to score a try in the last minute but a try-saving tackle by Willacott on Alex Prince to stop his length of the field run prevented this.

Pictured: Rhy Davies attacks the England line.

WALES U18
Marcus Webb, Lewis Willacott, Paul Edwards, Luke Williams, Ben Jones, Curtis Davies, Shane Lee, Rhys Davies, Zak Williams, Connor Parker, Morgan Jefferies, Sion Jones, Connor Davies. Subs: Harry Boots, Jake Thomas, Nathan Ainsworth, Reece Brunt

ENGLAND LIONS U18
Jake Callum, Josh Oakes, Joey Brady, Alex Prince, Connor Turner, Dean Rooney, John Whittaker, James Williams, Brad Gotts, Joshua Steels, Jack Matthews, Gavin Roden, Jacob Moore. Subs: Declan Gregory, Kieron Atherton, Calvin Parker, Jack Sharrett