RUGBY LEAGUE
A handling error gifted England a fifth right on the hooter through Daniel Moss which went unconverted, giving the visitors a 26-12 half-time lead.
Wales could have had the first try of the second half after a good attack, but Lucas Elliott mishandled under pressure as he looked to complete the move.
Instead, it was England who further extended their lead through a Tom Nichilson-Watton try that Charnock converted.
Wales hit back in the 10th minute of the half through a skilful run by winger Jermarie Chatham. Huish failed to convert.
But the nail in the coffin for Wales came when Lewis Pinder was sinbinned with 15 minutes to go. England took advantage of the extra man straight away through a Moss try that Lewis Camden converted.
They looked for another score whilst Wales were depleted but, coupled with good Welsh defence and their own handling errors, couldn’t extended the lead further.
Wales made history later in the day by fielding their first ever U16 development side and in a dramatic fiery encounter against North-West England Lions, they came back from 28-6 down to win 30-28.
In the non-capped game played 30 minutes each way, Wales looked down and out with 15 minutes to go before scoring four converted tries.
A Jack Kenway try gave North West England the lead on eight minutes. Charlie McManus’s clean break doubled the lead with Ciaran Mood adding the extras to make it 10-0.
Will Bevan leapt from dummy half to get a try back for Wales. Harrison Griffiths converted. North West England went into half-time 10-6 up. They extended their lead two minutes into the second half through a Sam Craig try, which Mood converted.
They soon added further scores through Jack Kenway and Sam with Mood converting both to put them 28-6 up.
Wales then hit back with two quick tries, Will Oates and Brad Toy both scoring between the sticks, each converted by Griffiths.
Griffiths darted through for a try of his own with six minutes to go, that he converted himself to bring the score back to 24-28.
And, after Wales knocked on and all seemed lost, Griffiths intercepted a pass, ran 90 metres to score and converted again to put Wales in the lead for the first time as they held on for victory. MERTHYR moved into eighth spot in the Southern League Premier Division South with a stunning last-gasp winner in London.
Corey Jenkins’ deflected shot after 95 minutes was enough to secure all three points after the Martyrs had come from a goal down in the first half.
Luke Robertson found the bottom corner of the Merthyr net after only two minutes to give the visitors a mountain to climb.
But Merthyr began to exert their influence after 20 minutes and, just before the half-hour, the game was all square. Ian Traylor’s cross found Jarrad Wright at the far post and he lashed it into the net.
As Merthyr grew in confidence, Kerry Morgan was inches away from giving them the lead just before the interval, but his shot flew across goal.
The home side enjoyed the better of the second 45 minutes, with Merthyr defending resolutely.
Traylor’s curling effort was saved by home goalkeeper Charlie Burns after 49 minutes, but it was Merthyr hanging on midway through the half.
Wright cleared Bilal Sayoud’s effort off the line with 20 minutes remaining before Alex Harris made a fine stop to deny Jack Mazzone.
Merthyr had their moments, but it wasn’t until the death that Jenkins beat the last defender and then beat Burns via a deflection to secure victory. HAVERFORDWEST County, Swansea University and Llanelli Town are all level on 10 points after four matches in JD Cymru South.
But last season’s, runners-up Cambrian & Clydach, who have played one game fewer than the top three, are just a point further back in fourth.
The Rhondda club made it three wins from three as they ran out 4-2 victors at Goytre United. Sam Jones was at the double for Cambrian with Sam Johnson and Corey Shephard also among the goals.
STM Sports were 3-1 home winners over Pontypridd Town to make it three wins out of four, while Lee Trundle netted twice as Ammanford bagged their first victory of the season 3-1 at Llantwit Major. Ben Soal also found the net.
Elsewhere, Chris Ham, from the penalty spot, and Niall Yeates were on target for Cwmbran Celtic as they beat Caerau Ely 2-0, while Undy Athletic got the better of Taffs Well 4-2. Gareth Cullimore notched his 199th and 200th Welsh League goals for Undy while Dan Jarman was also at the double.
In Welsh League Division One, second- half goals from Owen Thomas and Shane Brewer fired Aberbargoed Buds to a 2-1 home win over Abergavenny.
Garden Village drew 1-1 with Caldicot Town and it also ended 1-1 in the game between Ton Pentre and Croesyceiliog. Leroy Thomas put Ton Pentre in front, but Nick McGrath’s equaliser ensured it would finish all-square.