England Counties U18 rounded off the perfect week by beating Ireland U18 Clubs to secure two wins from two in the International Triangular Festival at Hartpury College.
It was a dramatic game though, with Myles Bean (King Edward VI School) scoring the crucial try to give England a 13-11 victory with under a minute left on the clock.
It was the final game in charge for England Counties U18 Head Coach Dave Reed, who has been at the helm for nine successful years.
Both sides had beaten a France Regional Select XV in the lead up to this Festival finale, meaning the winner would effectively ben the Festival ‘champions’.
England Counties took the lead through Warwick’s James Shillock’s first half penalty, but six minutes later Ireland levelled things through a Liam Coombes penalty.
That stayed the case until the second half, where just over ten minutes in England crossed the whitewash through Priory Academy winger Ben Usher. Ireland came back with pressure of their own through to score through centre Sean O’Brien, crossing over through an overlap as opposed to the more barreling nature of his international namesake.
With five minutes remaining, substitute Luke Carty landed a penalty for Ireland, putting them 11-8 ahead, seemingly securing the victory.
England pressed on though and with barely any time remaining they secured a kickable penalty. Showing admirable ambition though, they went to the corner rather than taking a shot at the draw, securing a five metre lineout.
From there they worked an overlap for Bean on the right hand side, who showed his pace to round the defence and secure the dramatic winning score.
Full Time: England Counties U18 13-11 Ireland Clubs U18
England Counties U18:
15. Fergus Wood (Ardingly College, Hove RFC and Sussex)
14. Myles Bean (King Edward VI School, Bedford Blues RFC and Warwickshire)
13. Aaron Martin (Bilton School, Bedford Blues RFC and Warwickshire)
12. James Shillcock (Warwick School, Worcester RFC and Warwickshire)
11. Ben Usher (The Priory Academy, Newark RFC and Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire)
10. Jacob Atkins (St Pauls School, Bracknell RFC and Berkshire)
9. Ruaridh Dawson (Newcastle School for Boys, Blaydon RFC and Northumberland)
1. John Whittaker (Sandbach School, Sandbach RFC and Cheshire)
2. Owen MacCuish (Sandbach School, Sandbach RFC and Cheshire)
3. Ciaran Knight (St Peter’s School, Matson RFC and Gloucestershire)
4. John MacKenzie (captain, Runshaw College, Preston Grasshoppers RFC and Lancashire)
5. Cameron Gray (The Oratory School, Maidenhead RFC and Berkshire)
6. Joe Duffy (Myerscough College, Sale Sharks and Lancashire)
7. Justin Rowland (George Abbot School, Chobham RFC and Surrey)
8. Max Hill (Worcester Sixth Form College, Malvern RFC and North Midlands)
Replacements:
Harrison Berresford (Hautlieu School, Jersey RFC and Hampshire)
Tom Doughty (St Bartholomews School, Hove RFC and Sussex)
Jack Conteh (Myerscough College, Sale Sharks and Lancashire)
Josh Novell (Bedes School, Crowborough RFC and Sussex)
Dylan Morris (Reed’s School, Wimbledon RFC and Surrey)
Connor Hayhow (St Paul’s School, Bracknell RFC and Berkshire)
Ireland Clubs U18:
15 Conor Nash (Navan/Leinster)
14 Dominic Gorard (Ealing Trailfinders/St. Benedict’s/Exiles)
13 Sean O’Brien (Mullingar/Leinster)
12 Ciaran Frawley (Skerries/Leinster)
11 Otto Gray (Canford School/Exiles)
10 Liam Coombes (Skibbereen/Munster)
9 Jack Combes (Hartpury College/Exiles)
1 Eoin Corcoran (Longford/Leinster)
2 Conor Maguire (Boyne/Leinster)
3 Ian McCarthy (Highfield/Munster)
4 Sean Masterson (Portlaoise/Leinster)
5 Jack Regan (Birr/Leinster)
6 Alan Fitzgerald (Young Munster/Munster)
7 Conor Farrell (Navan/Leinster) (c)
8 Paul Boyle (Gorey/Leinster)
Replacements:
Tadgh McElroy (Dundalk/Leinster)
Greg McGrath (Wexford Wanderers/Leinster)
Jack Aungier (Suttonians/Leinster)
Joe Carley (Enniscorthy/Leinster)
Conor Hand (Navan/Leinster)
Niall Saunders (Harlequins/Epsom College/Exiles)
Luke Carty (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Peter Howard (Cill Dara/Leinster)
Darragh Cummins (Sligo/Connacht)
