U18 INTERNATIONAL
SCOTLAND 26 WALES 24
Barry McGuffog at Stags Rugby Club
Wales recovered from going 24-4 down after an hour to Scotland in Grangemouth, but a late penalty gave Scotland only their third win over Wales at this level.
Scotland took an early 4-0 lead through an unconverted Nathan Preston try, only for Wales to quickly level through Dylan Morgan.
However the home side went into the break with a 10-4 lead through Isaac Reid’s try that was converted by Oliver Brady.
Scotland were given an advantage early in the second half when George Birch was yellow-carded for persistent offending, and when Wales were down to 12, the Scots scored twice. First through Callum Bovill, then James Wells, with Oliver Brady converting the second.
This put them 20-4 up and no sooner had Birch come on, Scotland’s Oliver Brady was sent to the bin for a similar offence, but it was Scotland who increased their lead as Preston went over for his second.
Wales then took control of the game. Morgan went over for his second, followed quickly by Donovan Rankin, then Birch, with Mason Apsee, the player who the Welsh staff voted as their star player (pictured above), converting once.
As the game went into the last few minutes, Scotland were again down to 12 as Jack Suddick was sent to the bin. Wales took advantage straight away through a Finlay Northrop try that Apsee converted.
That levelled things and with a minute to go, the referee awarded Scotland a penalty in a kickable position and Gabriel Lewis made no mistake.
Dafydd Morgan (pictured below) was nominated as player of the match by the Scotland staff.
PHYSICAL DISABILITY RUGBY LEAGUE
WALES 10 ENGLAND 22
Sian Golden at Llandovery RFC
England beat Wales 22-10 in a Physical Disability Rugby League international (PDRL) on Saturday in Llandovery in what was the first-ever home game for Wales in this discipline.
PDRL is an adapted version of rugby league aimed at giving those with physical disabilities the opportunity to play. It is a nine-a-side running format of the game, and is both full contact and touch, based on disability which is signified by the colour of a player’s shorts.
A vocal contingent followed both sides down to the Carmarthenshire countryside to support the game and the hosts started the game toe to toe with the visitors, but the world champions’ experience eventually told.
England opened their account through Scott Gobin crashing over in the corner. Adam Fleming missed the conversion.
Steve Bates had a carbon copy of the first try by scoring unmarked in the opposite corner, Fleming missing again.
Gareth Sullivan saw red which saw the hosts a man down approaching the half time whistle and England went into the break with an 8-0 lead.
They started the second half well as a fantastic length of the field run from Gobin led to his second try. Fleming converted.
Soon after that, Wales opened their account. Morgan Jones burst through the defence and converted his own try.
England hit back immediately through Callum Parkinson as he wormed through a gap in the Welsh defence, before Nicholas Leigh crossed the line in the far corner. Fleming both kicks.
Wales had the final say through Paul Jones who made a spectacular move to keep the ball within play and dotted it down.