It certainly was a Super Sunday for Wales in Merthyr Tydfil as we recorded three wins out of three against Scotland, beating our Celtic rivals at U16, U17 and Students levels.
The day started with Wales U16, with 17 of the 20 players, including all the starting 13, coming from community sides in South Wales, running out 66-2 winners (pic above by Photography by SJH).
The Welsh went into a 22-0 lead in 18 minutes thanks to tries from Alfie Davies, Jack Parrott, Caden Templar and Max Phillips. Parrott converted three times.
Cyrus Owen-Green from North Wales, extended Wales’ advantage five minutes before half-time, and there was still time for Alfie Davies and Max Phillips to each run in their second tries of the match. Parrott added three more goals to put Wales into a 40-0 half-time lead.
Wales quickly continued the damage early in the second half as Charlie Eatly ran in for a try after just two minutes. Cameron George, Will Mordecai and Danny Jones soon added scores, with Mordecai improving Jones’ try to put the score on to 58-0.
However, Jones took no further part in the game, receiving a red card for striking. Scotland’s Lachlan McKelvey also saw yellow for his part in the fray. Scotland received a penalty and Reece McAdam kicked from long range to get their first points of the tournament.
But with 12 v 12 for the remainder of the match, Wales took advantage of the extra space as Davies completed his hat-trick, with Mordecai adding another try to complete the scoring.
WALES: Morgan Jones (Torfaen Tigers), Alfie Davies (Aber Valley Wolves), Cameron George (Torfaen Tigers), Max Phillips (Torfaen Tigers), Rhys Anthony (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Jack Parrott (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Will Mordecai (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Danny Jones (Torfaen Tigers), Zac Nottingham (West Wales Jets), Caden Templar (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Ellis McGregor (Cynon Valley Cavaliers), Charlie Eatly (West Wales Jets), Rhys Wood (Aber Valley Wolves). Subs: Scott Hewitt (Shaw Cross Sharks), Henry Davies (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Kelyn Jude-Hobbs (Torfaen Tigers), Mason Lewis (West Bank Bears), Louis Johnson (Aberavon Fighting Irish), Jack Field (Cynon Valley Cavaliers), Cyrus Owen-Green (North Wales RL).
Check out full stats, fixtures and the latest table for U16s here
Wales U17 played a near-perfect second half to beat Scotland 50-28 (pic above Captured by Kate).
It was just the second game ever played by Wales at U17 level, the first being a narrow post-Covid defeat against England, played so U16 players could still get international experience, so this was the first time that Wales have run a full U17 programme,
Both sides were giving 11 players their first taste of international rugby league, and the closeness of the first half showed how the sides were evenly matched.
Wales took the lead in the third minute when Zach Robbins ran over. Matthew Clatworthy converted before adding a try of his own.
Scotland hit back with a Declan Smith try on 14 minutes, after being awarded consecutive six-agains, with Ollie Watkins-Smith going over for their second from kick-off. Tom Glover converted both to give Scotland a 12-10 lead.
Tries from Ben Foskett and Robbins, the latter converted by Clatworthy, to put Wales into a 20-12 lead but a Glover try and goal gave Scotland hope before the break.
Two breakaway tries from Evan Benjamin and one from Caltworthy, who converted all three, increased Wales’ lead early in the second half.
An unconverted Joseph Davies try for Scotland brought the score back to 38-22, before Benjamin scored with ease to complete his hat-trick and win him player of the match. Clatworthy converted. An Elliot Williams try and Benjamin goal brought up the half century.
But the final say went to Scotland as Finaley Stamford fought his way under the sticks in the final play of the match with Glover adding the goal.
WALES: Ronan Parry (Orrell St James), Ben Foskett (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Evan Benjamin (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Finley Bosanko-Sheady (Aber Valley Wolves), Elliot Williams (Aber Valley Wolves), Matthew Clatworthy (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Ruben Main (Rhondda Outlaws), Eddie Ashman (Wakefield Trinity), Zach Robbins (Oulton Raiders), Will Dawkins (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Joseff Keating (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Calum Woolfe (West Wales Jets), Ali Al Jassem (Aber Valley Wolves), Subs: Charlie Burrows (Aber Valley Wolves), Lewis Mathias (Crosfields), Keilan Harris (Aber Valley Wolves), Harry Price (Aber Valley Wolves), Nathan Lee (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Finley Hook (South Wales Jets), Jayden Coxe (South Wales Jets)
Check out the full U17 stats and fixtures here
Wales will take on England for the Student Four Nations title in a couple of weeks after beating Scotland 44-10 (pic above Captured by Kate).
Scotland took an early lead through an unconverted Archie Walker try, but after that, it was all Wales.
They were 30-4 up at half-time thanks to tries from Kavan Phillips, Dylan Morgan, Lewis Ingram, Mason Phillips, Scott Simons and George Groves. Llewellyn Hawkes converted three times.
An unconverted Leo Jones try early in the second half extended Wales’ lead, and despite being temporarily down to 12 following Jacob Purcell’s sinbin for a high tackle, Wales quickly scored again, through Lewis Ingram with Hawkes converting.
Wales were then temporarily reduced to 11 after Mason Phillips also saw yellow. A Guy Chalstrey try and goal then gave Scotland a late consolation, but Kit Heales cemented the win for Wales with the final try of the match.
WALES: Lewis Ingram (Swansea University), Dylan Morgan (Cardiff and Vale College), Mason Phillips (University of Lancashire, capt), Finlay Northrop (Cardiff Metropolitan University), Lewis Howells (University of Nottingham), Mason Apsee (University of Gloucestershire), Llewellyn Hawkes (Cardiff Metropolitan University), Jacob Purcell (Cardiff Metropolitan University), George Groves (University of Gloucestershire), Rhys Nicholls (Cardiff Metropolitan University), Scott Simons (Cardiff Metropolitan University), Alex Thorpe (Swansea University), Kavan Phillips (Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni). Subs: Kit Heales (Swansea University), Sam Chaloner (Cardiff University), Alex Green Cardiff Metropolitan University), Olly Darlington (Cardiff University), Alex Naylor (Cardiff University), Leo Jones (University of Exeter), Jacob Wallace (Neath College), Tom Moore (Swansea University)
Check out full stats, fixtures and the latest table for Wales Students here
