Wales clinch third place in the European U19 Championships

Wales clinch third place in the European U19 Championships

EUROPEAN UNDER 19 CHAMPIONSHIPS – THIRD PLACED PLAY-OFF

WALES 42 SCOTLAND 18

By Ian Golden

Wales put in an outstanding second half performance against Scotland to clinch third place in the Rugby League European Under 19 Championships in Serbia.

They scored six unanswered tries in the second half to win 42-18 after being 18-6 down at half-time.

Good defence from both sides in the first ten minutes prevented any early tries and it was the Scots who eventually broke through first when Archie Andrade sidestepped the defence. Luke Punton converted.

Wales levelled things on 18 minutes when Lewis Hall ran over near to the sticks and converted his own try.

Scotland regained the lead ten minutes later after Elliot Campbell ran through to score with Punton converting well.

Then just before half-time, when Wales had a man in the sin bin, Timmy Kennedy was on the end of a good passing move for Scotland’s third try. Punton converted again.

Wales made the perfect start to the second half after Billy Glover broke through from short range and Hall converted.

Then they levelled after captain Cobi Green scored in the corner following a scrum and Hall converted.

Wales were now completely dominating. Following a penalty, Will Lynch was next over with Hall converting once again.

And after Scotland’s Chris Paterson was sent to the sin bin for his part in an altercation, Wales rubberstamped the game.

James Smith went in under the sticks for Wales’ fifth try on 65 minutes. Hall’s kick put Wales into a 30-18 lead.

Then another good passing move put Macauley Harris over in the corner for their sixth. Hall converted again.

Both teams then lost a player for their part in an off the ball incident and it was Wales who took advantage of the extra space with Fraser Stroud scoring their final try and Hall keeping up his 100% kicking record.

WALES: Lewis Hall (Warrington Wolves), James Smith (West Wales Raiders), Finlay Swift (Pilkington Recs), Billy Glover (Widnes Vikings), William Lynch (Leigh Miners Rangers), Cai Ellis (Newcastle Thunder), Cobi Green (Bradford Bulls), Aneurin Walker (West Wales Raiders), Macauley Harris (West Wales Raiders), James McGurk (Newcastle Thunder), Ellis Simon (West Wales Raiders), James Bartlett (Cardiff Blue Dragons), Fraser Stroud (West Wales Raiders). Subs: Morgan Rowlands (Cardiff Blue Dragons), William Mills (Salford Red Devils), Jake Cannon (Cardiff Blue Dragons), Adam Young (Aber Valley Wolves).

Tries: Hall (18), Glover (46), Green (51), Lynch (57), Smith (65), Harris (71), Stroud (76)

Goals: Hall 7/7

SCOTLAND: Alex Williams (Edinburgh Eagles), Euan Caldwell (Bon Accord Bulls), Archie Andrade (Wakefield Trinity), Timmy Kennedy (Edinburgh Eagles), Conall McDonagh (Strathmore Silverbacks), Luke Punton (Bradford Bulls), Fergus Simpson (Edinburgh Eagles/ Newcastle Thunder), Chris Paterson (Newcastle Thunder), Adam Hay (Wallsend Eagles), Connor Terrill (Millom ARLFC), Jack McMillan (Queensbury ARLFC), Matthew Fletcher (Edinburgh Eagles), Charlie Emslie (Millom ARLFC). Subs: Elliot Campbell (Barrow Island), Gregor Mitchell, (Edinburgh Eagles), Dan May (Halifax Elite Rugby Academy), Clem Harrison (London Skolars)

Tries: Andrade (10), Campbell (28), Kennedy (38)

Goals: Punton 3/3