England U18s followed up their excellent win over Scotland with an impressive 43-12 win over Wales U18s on Sunday.

Oaklands College’s George Perkins scored a stunning first half hat-trick, including two in the first ten minutes, which with Dean Close’s Lloyd Evans conversions gave England a 14-0 lead.

A Henry Cheesman try then followed as the big number eight showed his Whitgift form to touch down after a tap penalty from Sherbornes Will Homer.

Perkins then completed his hat-trick with a powerful try, putting England 28-0 up and in total control. Wales hit back though just ahead of half time to reduce the deficit to 23 points but England were in no mood to allow a comeback.

Tries from Bryanston star Max Clark and Filton College’s Lucas Slowick followed after the break, with an Evans penalty helping to drag the score out to 43-5, with thirteen points coming from the young fly half’s boot.

Wales did have the last say in the game though, scoring a second to make it 43-12, however by then England were well in control and able to see the game out in total comfort.

The next big test for the group comes on Friday though as they take on France U18s ahead of the FIRA/AER European Championships, which begin on the 11^th April, and Head Coach John Fletcher was keen to seek even more improvement ahead of that French challenge:

“Overall we are pleased with the way we played today, we attacked with real intent and scored some good tries. The forwards created a strong platform for our backs and some of the interplay was good. We improved defensively as the game went on.”

“We lacked consistency and accuracy at times which will improve the more the players train and play together. We’ll reflect on the game when we meet up on Thursday and then switch our focus to France on Friday, which will be another big challenge.”

Captain Jack Walker said: “I was massively proud of all the lads today – everyone put in a big shift and we’re pleased to get the result after a good performance. Wales put up a real fight and made it tough for us, but credit to our guys, we got over the gain-line well and deserved to get the win in the end.”

England XV:

15 Will Hayward (Hartpury College, Gloucester Rugby),  14 George Perkins (Oaklands College, Saracens),  13 Max Clark (Bryanston School, Bath),  12 Charlie Thacker (Leicester Grammar, Leicester Tigers),  11 Taylor Prell (Giggleswick School, Leeds Carnegie),  10 Lloyd Evans (Dean Close, Gloucester),  9 Will Homer (Sherborne School, Bath); 1 Lewis Boyce (Prince Henry’s, Leeds Carnegie),  2 Jack Walker (Prince Henry’s, Leeds Carnegie, captain),  3 Ciaran Parker (St Ambrose, Sale Sharks),  4 Kieran Treadwell (John Fisher, Harlequins),  5 Josh Peters (Oundle School, Northampton Saints),  6 Charlie Beckett (QEW, Leicester Tigers),  7 Sam Underhill (Sir Thomas Rich’s School, Gloucester),  8 Henry Cheeseman (Whitgift, Harlequins).

Replacements: 16 Ollie Adams (St Pauls Catholic College, London Irish),  17 George Edgson (Hartpury College, London Wasps),  18 Seb Adeniran-Olule (Wellington College, Harlequins),  19 Joe Maksymiw (QEW, Leicester Tigers),  20 Joe Batley (Hartpury College, Gloucester),  21 Jack Maunder (Blundells, Exeter Chiefs),  22 Lucas Slowik (Filton College, Bristol),  23 George Wacokecoke (St Joseph’s College, Northampton Saints).