WALES STUDENTS 14 ENGLAND STUDENTS 34

At Edinburgh University

 

England won the Student Four Nations for the third year in a row after beating England in Edinburgh on Saturday afternoon.

 

However, despite two defeats, Wales took second place, again for the third year in a row, this time of points difference after all Celtic nations recorded one win each, Scotland beating Ireland 52-26 in the penultimate game of the round robin competition.

 

England took the lead on 14 minutes after Brad Kislingbury forced his way over the line and Brewer converted.

 

But Wales levelled thing fives minutes later after Tom Davies broke down the right and Harry Boots finished off the try, Marcus Webb converted.

 

A sweeping move from left to right finished by James Hill in the corner gave England the lead back before Sam Druce jumped from dummy half and planted the ball over the line for the next try.

 

And just before half-time, James Woodburn-Hall’s grubber caused havoc in the Welsh defence and Zack McComb profited with a try. Brewer missed all three conversions and England were leading 18-6 at the break.

 

Wales took first blood in the second half after Lewys Willacott broke down the wing and stepped inside and out to beat the full back to score. Webb missed the conversion attempt but the score was back to 18-10.

 

However England clinched things after dominating the next 20 minutes and recording four more tries, all of them unconverted.

 

Woodburn-Hall scored off the next play after great play by Lewis Lord.

 

That was before Brewer intercepted to give England position for Charlie Greene to strike.

 

On the hour, Jason Bass returned the ball from his own 40 to score next to the posts, the kick being sliced wide by Woodburn-Hall.

 

Then with ten minutes to go, a move from one touch line to the other gave Hill his second. Druce missing this time.

 

With five minutes to go, Wales scored a consolation, after a great round the back pass from Webb set up Evan Wynne. Webb’s subsequent conversion miss meant stunningly that no goals were converted in the second half.

 

WALES

Tries: Boots (19), Willacott (43), Wynne (76)

Goals: Webb 1/3

 

ENGLAND

Tries: Kislingbury (14), Hill (25, 70), Druce (29), McComb (39), Woodburn-Hall (49), Greene (57), Bass (61)

Goals: Brewer 1/6, Woodburn-Hall 0/1, Druce 0/1

 

Pos.	Team	W	D	L	F	A	Diff	Pts.
1	England	3	0	0	126	28	98	6
2	Wales	1	0	2	90	88	2	2
3	Scotland	1	0	2	74	122	-48	2
4	Ireland	1	0	2	72	124	-52	2

 

 

 

ABER VALLEY WOLVES 46 WEST WALES RAIDERS RESERVES 12

By Ian Golden at Senghenydd RFC

 

Aber Valley Wolves easily overcame their West Wales opponents 46-12 but the Raiders refused to lie down throughout and were eventually rewarded with two late tries.

 

Both sides were notably understrength but it was the Wolves, who blooded a few new youngsters, who took a dominating 16-0 lead in the first 15 minutes after tries from Lloyd Badman, Aaron Evans and Geraint Clarke, Evans converting the first and third.

 

An unconverted Lloyd Davies in the corner then a breakaway Josh Jones score just before the interval which Evans improved, made the score 26-0 at the break.

 

Straight after the break it was 30-0 after a try from Lloyd “stiff legs” Davies before Badman went under the sticks for his second and Wolves seventh with Evans converting.

 

From kick-off, Ryan Williams went over in the corner for an unconverted score to make it 40-0 and it was then that the Raiders started fighting back.

 

They were close to a try midway through the second half but after a good defensive effort on the line kept them out, Raiders were unfortunate to allow a breakaway try from Connor Graves that Connor Weigold converted.

 

Raiders didn’t give up and their persistence was rewarded with two tries in the final ten minutes, scored by Luke Davison and Sean Collins with Taylor Phillips converting both.

 

 

CARDIFF CITY RL 68 BLAENAU GWENT SHARKS 14

By Nathan Davies at Rumney RFC

 

Cardiff City RL are up to second place in the Welsh Conference after a resounding 68-14 win over Blaenau Gwent Sharks at Rumney RFC.

 

The visitors took the early lead with a try from Dan Croft but  Cardiff hit back straight away with Paul King crossing the white wash.

 

Both teams traded attacking sets and it was Cardiff who made another breakthrough. Instead of kicking on fifth tackle, the ball was played along and Kane Evans cross for the first of his afternoon.

 

Blaenau who travelled with 14, found the pace tough and struggled in defence at times as Kane Evans scored a second cutting a hole in midfield. Further tries for Captain Kyle Rose and Jacob Brennan ensured Cardiff kept the score board ticking over. Sharks kept plugging away and were rewarded with a try right on half time scored by Dai Williams which was converted by Brendon Isaac to make the half-time score 32-10.

 

The second half was all one way traffic as Cardiff plugged the Men of Gwent’s line as Kane Evans, Jacob Brennan, Nathan Williams, Duane Illes, Daniel Wickens and  Paul King who had a brace all crossed.

 

Blaenau Gwent Sharks, despite being well behind stuck in to the end and scored a try on the final whistle as Anthony Isgrove crashed over from close range. Kyle Rose converted seven and Bradley Williams two for Cardiff.

 

Sharks’ captain Andrew Prouse said: ‘With a scratch team and bringing players in thought we all played well and never gave up. Looking forward to welcoming Cardiff to Tredegar RFC as we’ll have our full squad back and give a better account of what we are about.”

 

Cardiff City coach Ben Thomas said: “Credit to Blaenau Gwent Sharks for travelling down and putting up a battling performance, returning player Andrew Prouse led his team and never give in. We have focused all week on this game, we need to sharpen a few things up ready for next week’s challenge.”

 

 

Welsh Conference, South league table

Rank	Team	P	W	L	D	PF	PA	DIFF	PTS
1	Aber Valley Wolves	3	3	0	0	108	50	58	6
2	Cardiff City Rugby League Club	4	2	1	1	148	88	60	5
3	Bridgend Blue Bulls	3	2	1	0	162	86	76	4
4	West Wales Raiders Reserves	3	0	2	1	56	112	-56	1
5	Blaenau Gwent Sharks	3	0	3	0	58	196	-138	0