Wales U16 beat Scotland but Students lose to England

U16 FOUR NATIONS
WALES 48 SCOTLAND 4
Sian Golden, Chester RUFC

It will be winner takes all in August in the U16 Four Nations after Wales saw off Scotland 48-4 in Chester on Sunday.

Wales take on England at The Gnoll in Neath on Saturday 3rd August with both side coming into this encounter with two wins under their belt, and it’ll be a repeat of last year’s decider that Wales won 38-18 in Leigh.

The Welsh looked in control for the most of the game against Scotland. They started when Jack Sheppard burrowed over the defence for a first minute try. Matthew Clatworthy converted.

Welsh dominance continued when the metres were made quickly down the field and Ralf Roberts grounded.

Harley Smith added the third on 16 minutes, moving at sped to score, then seven minutes later, Roberts sped through the defence for his second and grounded under the sticks. Clatworthy converted to put the score on to 20-0.

And that’s the way it stayed until half-time. The Welsh defence held firm despite efforts from Cameron Hinchcliffe-Gregg to force his way under the sticks, whilst Jac Jones for Wales came close to scoring their fourth near the stroke of half time.

Joseph Johnson opened the score for Wales’ first try minutes into the second half as he grounded effortlessly through the defence on the wing.

But Scotland hit back. Isaac McLean scored their only try of the day after battling through the Welsh defence.

The Welsh captain Samuel Dickenson struck back almost immediately for Wales by grounding near the sticks.  Clatworthy missed the kick.

Joseph Johnson scored his second try in the corner moments later to take the game even further away from the Scots.

Jac Jones then grounded under the sticks following a valiant effort by William , but it was disallowed for a knock-on.

But he wasn’t to be denied, scoring under the sticks from the next play.

One way traffic continued but small flashes of promise could be seen throughout the Scotland side.

Elis Thomas scored at the death in the corner to end the game, but there was still time for another try when Sheppard grounded his second of the match under the sticks.  Clatworthy’s kick was successful.

WALES: 1 Samuel Dickenson (Woolston Rovers/St. Ambrose College, capt), 2 Joseph Johnson (Aber Valley Wolves/Corpus Christi Catholic High School), 3 Harley Smith (Cynon Valley Cavaliers/Aberdare Community School), 4 Morgan Marozzelli (Aber Valley Wolves/Blackwood Comprehensive School), 5 Ralf Roberts (Halton Farnworth Hornets/Ysgol Morgan Llywd), 6 Evan Williams (Torfaen Tigers/ West Monmouth School), 7 Matthew Clatworthy (Bridgend Blue Bulls/Porthcawl Comprehensive School), 8 Isaac Holdsworth (Siddal/Brighouse High School), 9 Finlay Walker (Aber Valley Wolves/Y Pant Comprehensive School), 10 Jake Sheppard (Torfaen Tigers/Islwyn High School), 11 William Mathers (Kippax Welfare/Castleford Academy), 12 Joshua Harding (Aber Valley Wolves/Blackwood Comprehensive School), 13 Harvey Williams (Aber Valley Wolves/Ebbw Fawr Learning Community). Subs: 14 Oliver Rees (Swansea Rams/Ysgol Y Strade), 15 Jac Jones (Cardiff Blue Dragons/The Bishop of Llandaff High School), 16 Tyler Mills (Crosfields/Great Sankey High School), 17 Elis Thomas (Bridgend Blue Bulls/Ysgol Gyfun Bro Dur), 18 Charlie Thomas (Swansea Rams/ Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Myrddin), 19 Harri Arthur (Swansea Rams/Ysgol Y Strade), 20 Kavan Phillips (Aber Valley Wolves/Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni).

Tries: Sheppard (1, 68), Roberts (7, 23), Smith (16), Johnson (45, 51), Dickenson (48), Jones (60), Thomas (66)
Goals: Clatworthy 4/10

SCOTLAND: 1 Joe Wilman (Stanningley), 2 Zack Clayton (Stanningley), 3 Oliver Ferguson (Stanningley), 4 Max Blackie (Leigh Miners Rangers), 5 Ben Milnes (Forth Valley Vikings), 6 Alasdair McKechnie (Catterick Crusaders), 7 Kieran Massey (Stanningley), 8 Leo Johnston (Yarm Wolves), 9 Isaac Maclean (Dalton), 10 Cameron Hinchcliffe-Gregg (Stanningley), 11 Charlie Jackson (Stanningley), 12 Alfie Jackson (Glasson Rangers), 13 Drew Docherty (Myton Warriors, capt). Subs: 14 Liam Bourhill (Kells), 15 Angus Shelton (Lindley Swift), 16 Danny Riley (Wath Brow Hornets), 17 George Holmes (Cottingham Tigers), 18 Michael Warner (Gala), 19 Harry Woodard (Saracens RU), 20 Evan Adamson (Hull KR Scholarship).

Tries: Maclean (46)
Goals: Milnes 0/1

Referee: Craig Davies
Half-time: 20-0

Wales Students line up after their defeat to England

STUDENT INTERNATIONAL

WALES 10 ENGLAND 40
Ian Golden, Aberavon Harlequins RUFC

England took the spoils in the first of the two legged encounter that replaces this year’s Four Nations.

The visitors went into an early lead when Jake Dickinson got on the end of a good set of passes to score in the corner. He converted his own try well.

England kept the possession, but good defence prevented a try on the other wing.

Wales hit back on 14 minutes. Oliver Firth forced his way through after Wales produced a good attacking set. Llewellyn Hawkes couldn’t land the kick.

England extended their lead five minutes later when Sean Baker scooted to the left of the posts. Jake Dickinson converted.

Leon Stewart fed Jake Dickinson for England’s third try but the scorer couldn’t convert his own try.

Wales soon hit back again. Lloyd Evans stormed through for an excellent individual try and Hawkes added the goal.

But the home side were temporarily disadvantaged when Oliver Firth was shown yellow for a high tackle. England quickly took advantage of the extra man and Dickinson sealed his hat-trick to make it 20-10 at the break.

And they didn’t take long before the extended their lead in the second half. A little over 60 seconds had gone when Euan Parke picked up a high bomb to score in the corner.

They scored their sixth of the game on 48 minutes when Fin Hay couldn’t be stopped and scored under the sticks. Dickinson converted. That was soon followed up by an unconverted try in the corner from Freddie Zigler.

Wales were again down to 12 men with Jac McGuffie was sent to the bin for the last eight minutes of the game and just like in the first half, the English took full advantage as Zigler was sent over in the corner and Dickinson converted.

The return fixture between the two sides is at Stanningley in Leeds on Saturday at 2.30pm.

WALES: 1 Lloyd Evans (Coleg Llandrillo), 2 Dylan Morgan (Cardiff and Vale College), 18 Jac McGuffie (Liverpool John Moore University), 7 Ben Luxford (University of Birmingham), 5 Jack Hunter (Swansea University), 6 Euan Owen (Swansea University), 21 Llewellyn Hawkes (Cardiff Metropolitan University), 8 Oscar Fisher (Leeds College of Building, capt), 9 Alfie Velasco (Swansea University), 15 Ed Weston (Coleg Llandrillo), 11 Jamie Jenkins (Cardiff and Vale College), 3 Jacob Purcell (Cardiff Metropolitan University), 4 Joe Coope-Franklin (University of Central Lancashire). Subs: 10 Scott Simons (Cardiff Metropolitan University), 13 Ollie Firth (Swansea University), 14 Ollie Moody (Swansea University), 16 Garin Nicholls (Abingdon and Witney College), 17 Joe Caldwell (Lancaster University), 19 Lewis Ingram (Coleg y Cymoedd), 20 Thomas Moore (Swansea University). 12 Retired for this year in memory of Gabriel Holt.

Tries: Firth (14), Evans (31)
Goals: Hawkes 1/2

ENGLAND: 14 Ben Price (Nottingham University), 23 Freddie Ziegler (Nottingham University), 3 Leon Stewart (Hull University), 4 Tom Oldroyd (Loughborough University), 5 Jake Dickinson (Edge Hill University), 1 Charlie Gay (Newcastle University), 21 Elliot Shaw (Northumbria University), 19 Ben O’Donnell (Liverpool John Moore University), 9 Sean Baker (Newcastle University), 13 Aaron Powell (University of Warwick), 11 Tom Wilkins (Exeter University), 15 Isaac Coleman (University of York), 18 Harry Gray (Leeds Beckett University). Subs: 12 Henry Davies (University of Manchester), 16 Fin Hay (Loughborough University), 17 Luciano Bejanidze (St Mary’s University), 22 Euan Parke (St Mary’s University), 26 Aaron Harlow-Stephenson (University of Sunderland).

Tries: Dickinson (4, 28, 39), Baker (19), Parke (42), Hay (48), Ziegler (54, 74)
Goals: Jake Dickinson 4/8

Referee: James Jones
Half-time 10-20