Wales take third place in the U19 Rugby League European Championship

WALES 32 UKRAINE 7
By Ian Golden

Ukraine gave Wales a scare in the third-placed play-off match of the European U19 Championships in Udine, Italy, but the boys in red eventually won 32-7 to equal their bronze medal win in the previous tournament four years ago.

Wales beat Ukraine 90-0 in the last European U19 Championships back in 2018, and were 54-0 at half-time in that match, but this is a much improved Ukraine side, one who beat Ireland last week, and Wales couldn’t break them in the opening stages.

In fact, Ukraine were closest to scoring twice in the first 20 minutes. First  Nazarii Daniv was pulled into touch when diving for the line, then Ivan Lipisii missed what should have been an easy penalty kick at goal.

The Ukranians eventually took the lead on 25 minutes when Oleksandr Levandovskyi kicked a drop goal and Wales were 1-0 down for the first time ever in international rugby league.

Ukraine kept up the pressure as they continued to dominate this period of the game. After kicking a penalty, Davyd Zazimko was held up over the line.

But Wales prevented the embarrassment of being 1-0 down at half-time when Scott Pritchard dived over on 32 minutes. Oscar Fisher followed that up five minutes later with Wales’ second try and with both conversions missed, they were 8-1 up at the break. 

Wales came out firing in the second half. Mason Phillips went over for the first try in the fifth minute, with Walkley kicking his first goal.

Phillips soon added his second and Wales’ fourth, with Walkely converting again.

Rhys Davies ran over for the fifth try as the game reached the hour mark. Walkley converted to give Wales a 26-1 lead.

Ukraine weren’t giving up. Maksym Harmash forced his way over and Oleksandr Formiuk converted.

But Wales, who also took bronze in 2018, cemented their win in the final minute when Davies ran well for his second try. Walkley again kicking the goal.

England later beat France 14-12 in the final, coming back from 8-0 down at half-time, to ein the Rugby League U19 European Championship trophy.

WALES
16           Lewis Ingram (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
2             Dylan Morgan (Cardiff Blue Dragons / Coleg y Cymoedd)
3             Mason Phillips (Rhondda Outlaws / Salford Red Devils)
17           Bradley Toy (Aber Valley Wolves / Coleg y Cymoedd)
5             Ethan Harley (Telford Raiders)
6             Billy Walkley (Aber Valley Wolves / Salford Red Devils)
4             William McCarthy (Aberavon Fighting Irish / Salford Red Devils)
18           Michael Carter (Aber Valley Wolves)
22           Dafydd Morgan (Aber Valley Wolves)
23           Bradley Williams (Cynon Valley Cavaliers / Coleg y Cymoedd)
21           Rhys Davies (Aber Valley Wolves / Coleg y Cymoedd)
12           Gethin Thomas (Fremantle Roosters)
13           Charlie Glover (Salford Red Devils)
Subs:
1             Isaac Morgan (Aberavon Fighting Irish)
8             Oscar Fisher (Newcastle Thunder)
11           Scott Pritchard (Aber Valley Wolves / Salford Red Devils)
20           Jamie Jenkins (Cardiff Blue Dragons / Coleg y Cymoedd)

Tries: Pritchard (32), Fisher (38), Phillips (44, 50), Davies (58, 79)
Goals: Walkley 4/6

UKRAINE
1             Oleksandr Formiuk (Kryvyi Rih Rugby)
2             Davyd Zazimko (Hard Sign)
3             Nazarii Daniv (Carpathian Trinity)
20           Vitalii Romanov (Carpathian Trinity)
5             Ihor Yefanov (Hard Sign)
15           Ivan Lipisii (Kyiv Rhinos)
7             Oleksandr Levandovskyi (Carpathian Trinity)
8             Maksym Harmash (Hard Sign)
9             Yevhen Checheta (Hard Sign)
10           Oleksandr Slizovskyi (Dnipro)      
11           Vitalii Kharun (Carpathian Trinity)
12           Bohdan Stetsun (Khmelnytskyi Eagles)
13           Danylo Kozak (Lviv Tigers)           
Subs:
14           Oleksandr Dyskyi (Hard Sign)
18           Andrii Levchyk (Rivne Giants)
19           Oleh Kaspruk (Lviv Tigers)
22           Oleh Bobrykovych (Carpathian Trinity)

Tries: Harmash (70)
Goals: Formiuk 1/1, Lipisii 0/1
Drop Goal: Levandovskyi

Referee: Aaryn Golding Belafonte (England)
Half-time: 8-1