Smith’s try in stoppage time swings it for Wales
QUITE how England lost this game will remain a mystery long into the future, but they were their own worst enemy in the end as they fell to only their third defeat to Wales at U20 level.
What England centre Connor Doherty thought he was doing when he drove through a ruck from the side and wiped out Wales No.9 Dan Babos in the final minute in front of his own posts only he will know.
Referee Sean Gallagher awarded a penalty and Wales kicked to the corner but it was still going to take a mighty effort to break through what had been a watertight English defence.
With the clock nearing 81 minutes, Babos went to the narrow side from the lineout, fly-half Sam Costelow picked out Deon Smith and the replacement wing drove into, through and over Josh Hodge to score the winner.
“It was the best feeling in the world to score that try. We put in a great shift and we couldn’t ask for any more,” flyer Smith said.
“We knew it was going to be a hard slog against this English team because they are a good side. But we showed what we can offer.”
England dominated territory and possession into the wind in the first-half at Colwyn Bay, yet could muster only one penalty. That came from outsidehalf Kieran Wilkinson in just the third minute.
It took 53 minutes before the next score, when Cai Evans stepped up to hit the mark after Richard Capstick had given away a silly penalty. Then the Wales 10 added a second penalty five minutes later to give his side an unlikely lead.
England had started the second half with a bang and outstanding Wasps No.8 Tom Willis got over the Wales line, but was somehow held up by the man of the match, Jac Morgan.
Wales cleared their lines but were unable to stop Rusi Tuima from claiming the first try of the game ten minutes from time.
Bath centre Tom de Glanville spotted a mismatch in the Welsh 22 and waltzed between the two home locks before offloading inside out of the tackle to the replacement back rower for a great try. Josh- Hodge added the tricky conversion and England look set for victory.
Three minutes from time it looked certain when Ollie Hassell-Collins made a clean break and sent Doherty over in the left corner. Irish referee Sean Gallagher ruled the try out for obstruction by flanker Aaron Hinkley.
That earned Wales a penalty which enabled them to kick play to within 30 metres of the England line. They then got another penalty thanks to Doherty’s stupidity and the rest, as they say, is history.
“We felt we created quite a lot of opportunities in the first half but that dominance did not show on the scoreboard. It’s very disappointing,” said England head coach, Steve Bates
“We had the try disallowed with two minutes on the clock and then probably made a couple of bad decisions which led to their score. Fine margins can define games and this is all good experience for these players’ development.”