Wales are U16 Four Nations champions… again!

WALES 32 ENGLAND 10
Ian Golden at The Lextan Gnoll (match played 35 minutes each way)

In front of over a thousand fans at The Lextan Gnoll in Neath, Wales U16 pulled off an outstanding win against England to clinch the U16 Four Nations unbeaten for a second year in a row.

The two sides came into the game completely level on competition points and points difference, so the form would have said that this would be an even game.

However, it was anything but. Wales were only 12-0 up at half-time thanks to two converted tries but they had three more disallowed.

It was only early in the mid stages of the second half where Wales made a few errors and completion rate went down that there were a few concerns, but they finished well to seal a well-deserved win, and still remain unbeaten in the two years that this tournament has been held.

With the majority of the Welsh players coming from the successful junior set-up in South Wales, where well over 2,000 children have been playing rugby league this summer, the win is a credit to both club and international coaches.

England nearly took the lead in the seventh minute. Archie Storr thought he’d grounded but the referee ruled it out for a double movement.

The home side got near to the line five minutes later, Ralf Roberts looked for a try, diving over but he’d received a forward pass.

And the Welsh looked like they’d scored a stunning try when Isaac Holdworth flicked the ball back to Jake Sheppard for him to ground, but the referee called it back for a knock-on.

Wales again looked to have taken the lead with 10 minutes remaining in the first half. Jayden Tyson was sinbinned for a high tackle on Ralf Roberts. From the next play, Morgan Marozzelli ran over but referee Rob Apsee called it back for a forward pass.

But when Wales got the ball back again, they took the lead. It was a fine passing move in the 27th minute that Elis Thomas finished off. Matthew Clatworthy converted well.

Only a dropped ball gave England an opportunity to score, but it was wasted – Bobby Dickinson’s grubber on the final tackle of the resulting set not being seen by any of his team-mates.

Again, when Wales got the ball back, they scored, and it only took them three tackles. Sam Dickinson sprinted over 50 metres, placing the ball under the sticks making the kick easy for Clatworthy and giving Wales a well-deserved 12-0 lead at the break.

An error put England onto the attack early in the second half, but again couldn’t make their chances count. Ellis Holliday attempted a try but his attempt at grounding was more akin to basketball and the try was ruled out.

England got a try back on 50 minutes after regaining possession through another Wales error and Travis Jack-Morse scoring in the corner. Mason Bowes converted well.

Wales needed to tighten things up, and they did. Jac Jones cleaned up some more England pressure and Wales turned defence into attack, producing a perfect set. Dickinson, Elis Thomas and Clatworthy were involved at the end, with Roberts scoring in the corner. Clatworthy kicked the extras before adding a penalty a few minutes later to put the score on to 20-6.

The Welsh now needed to defend to keep their lead. After being penalised for off-side, they faced a set starting from their own 10 metre line. But on this occasion, they forced the England attackers into touch.

A dropped ball from Wales’ next set gave England another chance and this time they didn’t waste it as Jack-Morse scored his second of the game. Bowes couldn’t convert and Wales were still 10 points up with less than five minutes to go.

And Wales wrapped the game up with two minutes to go after England spilled the ball. Dickinson didn’t let any English lads get in his way as he weaved through them to score. Clatworthy converted.

There was still time for Wales to put more icing on a very big cake. Evan Williams sprinted past the tired English to score and Clatworthy goaled to cement their well-deserved large win.

WALES
1. Samuel Dickenson (Woolston Rovers/St. Ambrose College)
2. Jac Jones (Cardiff Blue Dragons/The Bishop of Llandaff 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. Will Mathers (Kippax Welfare/Castleford Academy)
12. Josh 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. Cole Pelopida (Torfaen Tigers/Cwmbran 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)
20. Owain Martin (Bridgend Blue Bulls/Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bryn Tawe)
22. Hari Arthur (Swansea Rams/Ysgol Y Strade)

Tries: E Thomas (27), Dickenson (34, 67), Roberts (55), Williams (70)
Goals: Clatworthy 6/6

ENGLAND
1. Jayden Tyson (Egremont Rangers)
2. Travis Jack-Morse (Castleford Panthers)
3. Saul Campbell (Gateshead Storm)
4. Archie Storr (Kippax Welfare)
5. Ellis Holliday (Hensingham)
6. Bobby Dickinson (Hensingham)
7. Preston Burgess (Kippax Welfare)
8. Joseph Higgins-Meadows (Leigh Miners Rangers)
14. Declan Rigby (Halton Farnworth Hornets)
10. Kolby Harmer (Oulton Raiders)
18. Seb Jeffers (Shaw Cross Sharks)
12. Mason Bowes (Hunslet ARLFC)
13. Reece Galvin (Leigh Miners Rangers, capt)
Subs:
9. Dylan Morris (Egremont Rangers)
15. Jack Barker (Millom)
16. Bradley McDonough (Leigh Miners Rangers)
17. Alex Richardson (Latchford Albion)
11. Noel Gardner-Lewis (Leigh East)
19. Junior Redmond (Normanton Knights)
20. Josh Doran (Hensingham)

Tries: Jack-Morse (15, 65)
Goals: Bowes 1/2

Referee: Rob Apsee
Half-time: 12-0
Attendance: 1,200

WEST WALES 22 EAST WALES 22
Ian Golden at The Lextan Gnoll (match played 25 minutes each way)

West Wales took the WRL U14 Origin Series following a thrilling 22-all draw with East Wales, played before the U16 international.

Following a 22-12 win for West and a 22-all draw earlier in the season, East needed an 11-point win to take the 2023-24 Origin Series and they didn’t start well.

West Wales took the lead on four minutes when Lewis Rees scored under the sticks. Evan Brayley converted.

East hit back on the quarter-hour with a Max Phillips try in the corner. Rhys Wood converted.

And they took the lead when Noah Johnson dived over with Wood adding the extras again.

It was 12-6 to East at the break, but West were soon level. Zac Nottingham dived through the back-line to score and Brayley converted.

East went back into the lead 15 minutes before the end thanks to a Kelyn Jude-Hobbs try that Rhys Wood converted.

From kick-off Finley Hook raced 50 metres to extend East’s lead. Wood couldn’t land the kick from the touchline.

As soon as West Wales went back on to the attack, they scored. Charlie Noakes stormed through. Brayley missed the kick.

And in the final move of the game, Ceirion Emment-Jones split through the East line to race over 30 metres and score. Brayley converted to share the spoils on the day.

WEST WALES
1 Riley Davies (Cynon Valley Cavaliers)
2 Jacob Maund (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
3 Ceirion Emment-Jones (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
4 Owen Prince (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
5 Ieuan Thomas (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
6 Evan Brayley (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
7 Ruben Main (Rhondda Outlaws)
8 Charlie Noakes (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
9 Zac Nottingham (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
10 Finn Walsh (Swansea Rams)
11 Lewis Rees (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
12 Ellis McGregor (Cynon Valley Cavaliers)
13 Charlie Eatly (Bridgend Blue Bulls, capt)
Subs:
14 Samuel Evans (Rhondda Outlaws)
15 Harrison Dyke (Aberavon Fighting Irish)
16 Jac Murphy (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
17 Kal-El Williams-Daniels (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
18 Iestyn Ede (Rhondda Outlaws)
19 Jacob Broadley (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
20 Charlie Evans (Bridgend Blue Bulls)

Tries: Rees (4), Nottingham (29), Noakes (47), Emment-Jones (50)
Goals: Brayley 3/4

EAST WALES
1 Ollie Mann (Cardiff Blue Dragons)
2 Finley Hook (Aber Valley Wolves)
3 Miles Plummer (Aber Valley Wolves)
4 Jake Leighton (Torfaen Tigers)
5 Max Phillips (Cardiff Blue Dragons)
6 Kelyn Jude-Hobbs (Torfaen Tigers)
7 Rhys Wood (Aber Valley Wolves, capt)
8 Teifi Morgan Jones (Aber Valley Wolves)
9 Mason Plummer (Aber Valley Wolves)
10 Theo Patterson-Phillips (Aber Valley Wolves)
11 Connor Hawkey (Cardiff Blue Dragons)
12 Drew Foley (Cardiff Blue Dragons)
13 Noah Johnson (Aber Valley Wolves)
Subs:
14 Oisin Knowles (Aber Valley Wolves)
15 Morgan Jones (Torfaen Tigers)
16 Niall Mruk (Torfaen Tigers)
17 Noah Williams (Aber Valley Wolves)
18 Efan Crane (Aber Valley Wolves)
19 Roman Jones (Torfaen Tigers)
20 Harri Smith (Aber Valley Wolves)

Tries: Phillips (15), Johnson (19), Jude-Hobbs (40), Hook (43)
Goals: Wood 3/4

Referee: Craig Davies
Half-time: 6-12