Welsh youngsters put up brave show in defeats to English Lions
U16 INTERNATIONAL WALES 18 ENGLAND LIONS 34
ENGLAND Lions U16s won a hardfought encounter with Wales 34-18 in Colwyn Bay on Sunday with the result in doubt right up until the last five minutes.
Wales, with a number of their players signing up for the official Wales Rugby League academy in Coleg y Cymoedd for September, gave a good account of themselves for much of the game, but in the end England’s experience took them over the line.
The visitors took under a minute to take the lead after Wales made an error in the first set. Michael Sowden picked up the loose ball and Jayden Billy touched down from the resulting set. Oliver Whitford converted.
Wales hit back after seven minutes. Josh Hanson was the eventual scorer after two players were centimetres short in their attempts to get over the line. Isaac Morgan sliced the kick wide.
England regained the lead on 23 minutes when after a well-worked set, Billy notched his second, scoring near to the corner.
Whitford missed the conversion attempt so England held just a converted-try lead.
But five minutes later, the visitor increased their advantage after Ellis Welburn completed a good passing move to ground. Whitford’s conversion attempt hit the post.
Wales were close to pulling a try back before the break but Morgan Farmer-Gratton and Isaac Morgan were both held up over the line, leaving the half-time score at 14-4 to England.
Wales were first over the line in the second half, attacking from the off, and were rewarded when Ben Morris twisted his way over the line. Isaac Morgan’s conversion attempt slipped under the bar.
England regained their ten point lead when Scott Egan scored in the corner five minutes later in another try that went unconverted.
Wales hit back again through the try of the game when Isaac Morgan broke free on the wing and sprinted 40 metres to ground under the sticks. He converted his own try to leave Wales just four points behind.
But England were next to score when Jack Edge dived over in the corner. Sonny Cooper converted well from the touchline to give England their ten-point lead back.
A well worked try for Wales was next, with Farmer-Gratton the scorer and Morgan unable to convert.
But England sealed the game three minutes from the end when Ryan Joseph picked up an Edge pass to score in the corner. Cooper converted well.
Egan put the icing on the cake with a try in the final move of the game. Wales: Tries: Hanson (7), Morris (4), I Morgan (51), Farmer-Gratton (60); Goals: I Morgan 1/4 England: Tries: Billy (1, 23), Welburn (28), Egan (45, 70), Edge (54), Joseph (67); Goals: Whitford 1/4, Cooper 2/3 Referee: Rob Apsee Half-time: 4-14 Attendance (for both games): 710
U17 INTERNATIONAL WALES 10 ENGLAND LIONS 16
A try from Ryan Wood with four minutes left on the clock broke Welsh hearts in their first ever match at U17 level.
England Lions, selected from the best of the community sides in the north of England, won the encounter 16-10, but there was very little between the sides in an exciting contest played in good spirits throughout.
It was a battle royale throughout the game with two very well drilled defences. Wales have an official link with Salford Red Devils and this excellent performance from many individuals will certainly give their scouts a lot to look at.
After some good defending by Wales in the first ten minutes, they took the lead through a good run and break through by Harri Ackerman. Billy Walkley couldn’t convert.
England levelled on 26 minutes after Jay Richards twisted and turned to get past the Wales line and ground. Connor Gannon’s goal attempt was swept past the posts by the famous Bae Colwyn wind.
Wales looked to regain their lead, but tough English defence continued to keep them out and the scores were still level at 4-4 at the break.
England struck first in the second half after Evan Stephenson sold a dummy and scored. Gannon converted.
Wales replied on 54 minutes after Scott Pritchard leaped onto a grubber kick to score under the posts. Walkely converted to level the scores up at 10-10.
But it was England who won though after skipper Ryan Wood showed his skill be running through the Welsh defence to score under the posts. Gannon easily converted.
Both sides could have scored again in the last few minutes but, as they had been pretty much throughout the encounter, defences ruled. WALES: Tries: Ackerman (12), Pritchard (54); Goals: Walkley 1/2 ENGLAND: Tries: Richards (26), Stephenson (38); Goals: Gannon 1/2 Referee: James Jones Half-time: 4-4
Maesteg Quins 6-26 Bridgend Ravens
IT appeared Bridgend put more of their fringe players in the spotlight in the first half of their inaugural visit to South Parade. Quins placed their guests under pressure and the Ravens yielded several penalties.
Two kickable goals were spurned in favour of kicks to touch in the first five minutes. Despite the very good execution of both throw-ins, the attacks proved fruitless.
Tadhg McGuckin and Lewis Evans were the catalysts in the Quins’ adventurous handling movements and creative passing, which created space.
Kieran Watkins held up defenders and attracted defensive attention.
A couple of movements put those on the flanks in the clear, but defiantly Bridgend held firm.
Jakob Williams challenged for everything during his stint, took a quick tap inside the opposing half. It was a good run but without support he was held up and possession turned over.
The line-out was working like clockwork, apart from his constant carries Cameron Thomas was finding his jumpers Ace and Smith superbly. In turn, the ball being provided to the backs was of a good quality.
Deep inside their twenty-five, Bridgend gave away more penalties with their discretion tally moving into double figures, still the official saw no need to issue a further sanction. McGuckin kicked two penalties, giving the Quins a six-nil lead.
Spectators were appreciative of the Quins excellent defensive display. The midfield held out well, while close to the breakdown Steve Williams and Lewis Tutt kept Bridgend at bay.
That was until a clever Bridgend movement broke the home defence. Covering tackler Lewis Evans caught the ball carrier high, eight yards from the line. The referee called a penalty try and issued a yellow.
Just before the half a Quins penalty effort went wide. Nevertheless it was a very good first-half showing for the hosts who were unfortunate to be trailing at the break.
Ten changes were made by Bridgend and two of those, Ed Howley and Matthew Jones put their stamp on the game.
Within five minutes of the second-half kick-off Bridgend gained a penalty, kicked to touch and drove over with their combative blindside scoring the try.
The biggest disappointment of the day for the Quins, was the way all their disciplined defence was undone by indiscipline.
Even more disappointing, senior players were the culprits.
A line-out penalty, another line-out and a pacey back move stretched the home defence, giving Ed Howley the space to power over. Matthew Jones converted.
Quins’ kicking game was wayward. Booting the ball into the middle of the field with former Maesteg, Neath and Cardiff fullback Howley waiting to strike, meant the Quins were put on the back foot.
Between Howley and Jones the first forty/twenty kicks were seen at South Parade and they were executed with astute accuracy.
Dylan Morgan quickly got into the game and made a positive impact with his passing and pace.
A lack of control on behalf of the Quins caused the next score. Reacting immaturely, a Bridgend penalty, line-out drive and rolling maul try was added to with Jones’ conversion which put twenty points between the visitors and the hosts.
Bridgend looked to be crossing the line again, except Nathan Smith made up the ten yards to chase down and tackle the carrier. Smith himself made a break from a line-out and was unlucky when the slightest of errors trying to release his hands ended the charge.
The scrums were excellent throughout with everyone showing up well. Thomas, EubankAnderson, Ronan and Ethan Longley proving potent at the setpiece.
Longley, given the opposition and his age came through the scrum challenge exceptionally well.
Not that their work was confined to packing down, there was plenty of defensive work and carrying from all four.
This was another thoroughly enjoyable encounter for the spectators. Despite the Quins fine play, determination and every player being worth their weight in gold; Bridgend possessed that extra nous and expertise.
The match was the perfect preparation for thids week’s journey to Margam, where the Quins meet Tata Steel for their second game in the Championship Cup. It promises to be an exciting encounter.