Fletcher’s schoolboys triumph in South African tour finale
ENGLAND U18s ended their summer development tour with a fine victory over South Africa Schools.
Leading 19-0 at the break after tries from Ollie Hassell-Collins, Josh Basham and Sam Moore, England were made to work for the victory after the hosts hit back with a brace from Muller du Plessis and one from Henco Martins.
England kept focus to regain control with tries from Nick Rigby, Tom Willis, Cadan Marley, Sam Spink and Nick David. Those, plus three Kieran Wilkinson conversions, sealed victory for John Fletcher’s side.
After South Africa missed two early penalties England looked to have opened the scoring with Aaron Reed collecting Cameron Redpath’s cross kick to dot down in the corner. However, it was disallowed for an earlier knock on.
England did cross soon after with Hassell-Collins diving over in the corner after good work from the backs to create an overlap on the left wing.
Tom Seabrook then prevented a certain try with a last-ditch tackle inside England’s 22 and won a penalty to avert pressure.
From the resulting lineout, England broke up field and, after several phases, Basham burst through for the second try of the game which Redpath converted.
Captain Moore scored a third England try which took the lead to 19-0 at the break after Redpath converted.
South Africa were back in the game with a try early in the second half as Du Plessis jinked his way down the left wing and over in the corner.
A second try followed shortly after with Martins crossing and Qamani Kota’s conversion taking the score to 19-12.
Kota sent over a penalty for 19-15 but England had a fourth try through Rigby, who barged over from close range.
Redpath’s conversion extended the lead and a fifth try followed moments later as Willis was the beneficiary of some fine offloading in contact by his team mates.
Du Plessis scythed through again for his second try and South Africa’s third, but England settled matters with Murley, Spink and David scoring late on. Sale fly-half Wilkinson converted all three to end a fine afternoon.