U16 DEVELOPMENT MATCH – WALES DEVELOPMENT 30 NORTH-WEST ENGLAND LIONS 28
By Sian Golden at Stebonheath Park
Wales made history later in the day by fielding their first ever U16 development side and in a dramatic fiery encounter against North-West England Lions, they came back from 28-6 down to win 30-28.
In the development capped game played 30 minutes each way, Wales looked down and out with 15 minutes to go before scoring four converted tries.
A Jack Kenway try gave North West England the lead on eight minutes. Charlie McManus’s clean break doubled the lead with Ciaran Mood adding the extras to make it 10-0.
Will Bevan leapt from dummy half to get a try back for Wales. Harrison Griffiths converted and was then unfortunate not to level things, having a try disallowed for a forward pass. North West England went into half-time 10-6 up.
North West England extended their lead two minutes into the second half through a Sam Craig clean break which Mood converted.
They soon added further scores through Jack Kenway and Sam Craig with Mood converting both to put them 28-6 up.
Wales then hit back with two quick tries, Will Oates and Brad Toy both scoring under the sticks, each converted by Griffiths.
Griffiths darted through for a try of his own with six minutes to go, that he converted himself to bring the score back to 24-28.
And after Wales knocked on and all seemed lost, Griffiths intercepted a North West pass, ran 90 metres to score and converted again to put Wales in the lead for the first time in the game, holding on for the final two minutes.
WALES DEVELOPMENT: Billy Walkley (Aber Valley Wolves / West Wales Raiders), Scott Pritchard (Aber Valley Wolves), Ewan Challenger (Aber Valley Wolves / West Wales Raiders), Harrison Griffiths (Llanelli Knights / West Wales Raiders), Will Fyfe (Bridgend Blue Bulls / West Wales Raiders), Sean Gardner (Cardiff Blue Dragons), Bradley Toy (Aber Valley Wolves), Will Odgers (Cardiff Blue Dragons), Will Bevan (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Harry Johnson (Torfaen Tigers), Jamie Griffiths (Cardiff Blue Dragons), Owen Davies (Bridgend Blue Bulls / West Wales Raiders), Will Oates (Aber Valley Wolves). Subs: Lewis Ingram (Bridgend Blue Bulls / West Wales Raiders), Jordan Parker (Torfaen Tigers / West Wales Raiders), Ellis Rees (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Jack Preddy (Cardiff Blue Dragons)
Tries: Bevan (29), Oates (46), Toy (51), Griffiths (54, 58)
Goals: Griffiths 5/5
NORTH-WEST ENGLAND LIONS: Evan Parry (Saddleworth Rangers), Jack Knaggs (Saddleworth Rangers), Ciaran Mood (Latchford Albion), Luke Holland (Leigh Miners Rangers), Muhammad Ali (Latchford Albion), Sam Craig (Newton Storm), Charlie Mcmanus (Saddleworth Rangers), Josh Boyle (Thatto Heath Crusaders), Alex Davies (Newton Storm), Josh Beddall (Latchford Albion), Tyler Burtle (Leigh Miners Rangers), Bailey Pomfrey (Saddleworth Rangers), Jack Kenway (Saddleworth Rangers). Subs: Jack Humphrey (Newton Storm), Aidon Hewitt (Newton Storm), Harrison Picton (Newton Storm), James Clarke (Saddleworth Rangers), Josh Pretten (Newton Storm)
Tries: Kenway (8), McManus (16), Craig (32, 39), Kenway (36)
Goals: Mood 4/5
Referee: Ieuan Griffiths
Half-time: 6-10