Macauley Cook’s Welsh battlers staged a magnificent second half fightback to give their much vaunted English counterparts the fright of their lives at Parc y Scarlets before going down 26-20.
Having conceded four tries against the wind in the first-half, falling behind 26-13, Cook’s side grabbed the only points after the break as they mounted attack after attack on the English line.
No 8 Ben Thomas scored the try that brought the home side back to within one score and then the Welsh forwards got to within inches of clinching a second score only to be penalised for holding on by Irish referee Dudley Phillips.
The game ended with the 2,989 strong crowd roaring Wales on in their quest for the vital score, but despite their dominance they couldn’t quite make it. While the first-half was all about the sharpness of their attack, the second saw England forced to show off their defensive qualities and their celebrations at the final whistle showed how happy they were to hold on.
Wales got off to a flying start when Pontypridd flanker Ed Siggery rounded off a break launched in his own 22 by outside half Matthew Morgan with a try at the posts. Morgan added the extras and England had been issued with an early warning sign.
But after that the visitors revealed the power and pace in their own side, particularly in the back row, as they scored four tries in 18 minutes. Outstanding outside half George Ford was the chief instigator of the major offensive and he also chipped in with three conversions.
Wing Jamie Elliott responded within two minutes to Siggery’s try and then the back row duo of Matt Kvesic, twice, and skipper Alex Gray added to the England tally. Two Morgan penalties kept Wales in touch, but the signs weren’t good at half-time.
But then the Welsh side raised their game to new heights and had England on the rack for long periods. Jack Gadd, Ben John and then Owen Williams were threatening in the midfield, Harry Robinson was a constant threat on the wing and the forwards kept plugging away.
The scrum got better and better as the game wore on and the line-out functioned superbly well until the final throw of the game. Cook was rightly named as the man of the match, but Scarlets prop Rhodri Jones and the back row trio of Ben and Callum Thomas and Siggery were also tireless in their efforts.
Scorers: Wales U20: Tries: E Siggery, B Thomas; Cons: M Morgan 2; Pens: M Morgan 2. England U20: Tries: M Kcvesic 2, J Elliott, A Gray; Cons: G Ford 3.
Wales: Liam Williams (Llanelli), Harry Robinson (Blues), Ben John(Ospreys/ Aberavon), Jack Gadd (Bristol), Eli Walker (Ospreys / Swansea); Matthew Morgan (Ospreys / Swansea), Jonathan Evans (Dragons / Newport); Rhodri Jones (Scarlets / Llanelli), Kirby Myhill (Scarlets / Llanelli), Will Taylor (Ospreys / Swansea), Macauley Cook (capt, Blues / Cardiff), Matthew Screech (Blues / Pontypridd), Edward Siggery (Pontypridd), Calum Thomas (Blues / Pontypridd), Ben Thomas (Ospreys / Bridgend).
Replacements Used: Sam Parry (Llandovery) for Myhill 63; Cory Hill (Blues / Pontypridd) for Screech 47; Luke Hamilton (Blues / Glamorgan Wanderers) for Calum Thomas 58; Owen Williams (Blues / Cardiff) for Gadd 47;Rob Evans (Scarlets / Carmarthen Quins) for Jones 72
England: Ben Ransom (Saracens); Andy Short (Worcester Warriors), Elliot Daly (London Wasps), Ryan Mills (Gloucester), Jamie Elliott (Northampton Saints); George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Dan Robson (Gloucester); Mako Vunipola (Bristol), Mike Haywood (Northampton Saints), Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks), Kieran Low (London Irish), Charlie Matthews (Harlequins), Matt Kvesic (Worcester Warriors), Matt Everard (Leicester Tigers), Alex Gray (Newcastle Falcons, captain)
Replacements Used: Rob Buchanan (Harlequins) for Haywood 53; Ryan Bower (Leicester Tigers) for Vunipola 53; Christian Wade (London Wasps) for Short 53; Ollie Stedman (Leeds Carnegie) for Everard 59; Vinipola for Stedman 68-78; Guy Armitage (London Irish) for Daly 74,
