Wales took the U16 Four Nations title of the fourth year in a row, after a powerful second half against England, to win 30-10 and remain unbeaten in the history of the tournament.
Wales took the lead on seven minutes. A good run from Danny Jones, created a try for Max Phillips who dived over in the corner. Jack Parrott couldn’t land the kick.
England levelled on 14 minutes. Jaden Udegbe picked up a catch to ground, with Jonah Carter unable to convert.
The same player attempted a second try in the same position but dropped the ball when diving for the line.
But Wales went into half-time 10-4 up. Jack Parrott ran well and brilliantly laid the ball off to Leighton Clarke when under pressure, who then scored. Parrott converted.
Wales extended their lead five minutes into the second half with another try in the corner, this time from Alfie Davies.
Phillips dived over for Wales’ next try, quickly followed by Rhys Wood, with Parrott converting the second of these to put the score on to 24-4.
England managed a consolation with ten minutes remaining as Udegbe went over for his second try and Jack Bowden, he highest points scorer in the tournament, converted but Wales finished on a high, scoring the final points, with Wood going over for his second try and Parrott converting.
Unfortunately, Wales finished the match with just 12 players after Danny Jones received his second red card of the tournament, with Cyrus Owen-Green also seeing red at full-time for an incident after the whistle.
WALES: Scott Hewitt (Shaw Cross Sharks), Rhys Anthony (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Leighton Clarke (Wigan St Judes), Max Phillips (Torfaen Tigers), Alfie Davies (Aber Valley Wolves), Jack Parrott (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Kelyn Jude-Hobbs (Torfaen Tigers), Danny Jones (Torfaen Tigers), Zac Nottingham (West Wales Jets), Cyrus Owen-Green (North Wales RL), Mason Lewis (West Bank Bears), Charlie Eatly (West Wales Jets), Rhys Wood (Aber Valley Wolves). Subs: Morgan Jones (Torfaen Tigers), Frazer Redman (Torfaen Tigers), Will Mordecai (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Caden Templar (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Jack Field (Cynon Valley Cavaliers), Charlie Noakes (Bridgend Blue Bulls).
Check out full stats, fixtures and the latest table for U16s here
England had too much experience for the Wales U17 side, but the Welsh didn’t give up and were eventually rewarded with a try as we lost 46-6.
They took and early lead when Mason Hunter forced his way over in the corner, converting his own try.
But it took until ten minutes before half-time for them to score their second, after doing well to keep out the Welsh. Rio York crossing with Hunter converting again to give England a 12-0 lead at the break.
England were a lot stronger in the second half and it didn’t take long for York, and then Hunter to each register their second tries of the match, with the latter keeping up his 100% kicking record.
Josh Williams went over for England’s fifth try, 17 minutes into the second half. Will Steen kicked the conversion to give them a 30-0 lead.
The sixth try came ten minutes later when Zach Dennett scored in the corner, then from kick-off, York completed his hat-trick after a good set of passes. Steen converted both.
Wales finally broke their duck with six minutes to go. Ben Foskett ran under the posts and Elliott Williams kicked the conversion.
But it was England who had the last say as Zac Law scored eighth try, which went unconverted.
WALES: Finley Hook (South Wales Jets), Ben Foskett (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Rylie Probert (Torfaen Tigers), Finley Bosanko-Sheady (Aber Valley Wolves), Elliot Williams (Aber Valley Wolves), Ronan Parry (Orrell St James), Ruben Main (Rhondda Outlaws), Lewis Mathias (Crosfields), Zach Robbins (Oulton Raiders), Will Dawkins (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Joseff Keating (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Ali Al Jassem (Aber Valley Wolves), Jayden Coxe (South Wales Jets). Subs: Charlie Burrows (Aber Valley Wolves), Keilan Harris (Aber Valley Wolves), Harry Price (Aber Valley Wolves), Evan Trott (Bridgend Blue Bulls), Alan Delegiewicz (All Golds), Dewi Thomas (Aber Valley Wolves), Thomas Hayden (Rhondda Outlaws), Dylan Little (Cardiff Blue Dragons).
Check out the full U17 stats and fixtures here
England Universities lifted the Four Nations trophy after beating Wales 24-14, but they didn’t have it all their own way, and it was the best performance Wales have put in against England since Wales’s last win against them back in 2012.
Wales took a 2-0 lead, the first time they’d led against England Universities since 2014, after just two minutes when Llewellyn Hawkes chose to kick a penalty.
Then 14 minutes later, Hawkes forced his way over for the opening try of the game, that he converted.
England hit back on 24 minutes when Leon Stewart slipped through a gap to score. Jake Dickinson couldn’t convert.
They levelled a few minutes later through an unconverted Deusjes Nzage try, then following a penalty, Harry Lowery scored under the sticks to give England the lead for the first time in the match. Dickinson converted to put the score on to 14-8 at half-time.
England started the half well with two quick tries, first from Henry Lenthall, that was converted by Dickinson, then from Ben Grindley-Roberts.
Cheered on the boisterous crowd, Wales got back into the game on 66 minutes when Mason Phillips scored in the corner and converted his own try.
Suddenly it was all Wales. Twice they were held up over the line as Lewis Ingram and Jacob Purcell were close., then Kian Lloyd was stopped a metre from scoring in the final tackle of the set.
Then in the final seconds, Iestyn Scott misjudged a Jarrad Hughes pass as they looked for the final consolation try.
WALES: Lewis Ingram (Swansea University), Leo Jones (University of Exeter), Mason Phillips (University of Lancashire, capt), Kian Lloyd (Loughborough University), Dylan Morgan (Cardiff and Vale College), Llewellyn Hawkes (Cardiff Metropolitan University), Thomas Moore (Swansea University), Jacob Purcell (Cardiff Metropolitan University), George Groves (University of Gloucestershire), Alex Green (Cardiff Metropolitan University), Finlay Northrop (Cardiff Metropolitan University), Scott Simons (Cardiff Metropolitan University), Kavan Phillips (Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni). Subs (all used): Iestyn Scott (Swansea University), Luke Davies (Swansea University), Alex Naylor (Cardiff University), Olly Darlington (Cardiff University), Jarrad Hughes (Cardiff University), Alex Thorpe (Swansea University), Rhys Nicholls (Cardiff Metropolitan University)
Check out full stats, fixtures and the latest table for Wales Students here
