England U18 secured a fantastic 42-14 victory over Wales on Sunday at Sardis Road, Pontypridd.
It was the final game for both sides ahead of the U18 Six Nations Festival, which begins this weekend in Wales with Wales taking on France and England facing Scotland.
For England it was about as good a way to prepare as there could be as they ran in six tries with Beechen Cliff fly half Tom De Glanville landing a perfect six from six with the boot and crossing for two of his side’s tries for a personal haul of twenty-two points.
His first came prior to half time and added to scores from Kirkham Grammar School flanker Sam Dugdale and Bromsgrove centre Ollie Lawrence, who has also played for England U20 this year, it gave England a 21-0 lead at the break.
Wales closed the gap in the opening spell of the second half though after tries from Bryanston’s Ellis Bevan and Glantaf’s Ioan Davies, either side of a superb score for Northampton School for Boys winger Ollie Sleightholme for England, leaving the scores at 28-14 after Oakham’s Sam Costelow had converted both for Wales.
De Glanville then added his second before SGS Filton College scrum half Blake Boyland, playing against schoolmate Charlie Brabham, crossed for England’s 6th and a 42-14 lead with De Glanville’s conversion.
Speaking to www.englandrugby.com after the game, England Head Coach John Fletcher said:
“In patches we played well and if you put all our best bits together that would be a good reflection, it got a little bit stop start in the second half when we could have kicked on, but we’ve scored six tries and we are pleased with that.“
“We are delighted to play on a pitch like we did today at Sardis Road. It suits us, it’s fast and quick and the ball is moved around a lot so it gives both sets of player the opportunity to play rugby both sides of the ball.”
“Overall we are pleased, but we know we can get better and we will get better over the course of the next week heading into the Six Nations Festival. Our aim is always to get better.”
Full Time: Wales U18 14-42 England U18
Wales U18 XV:
15 Ioan Davies (Glantaf), 14 Louis Rees-Zammit (Hartpury College), 13 Deon Smith (Coleg Gwent), 12 Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler (Neath-Port Talbot College), 11 Ben Cambriani (Gower College), 10 Sam Costelow (Oakham), 9 Ellis Bevan (Bryanston), 1 Taylor Hansen (Coleg Gwent), 2 Dom Booth (Coleg Sir Gar), 3 Luke Yendle (Newport High), 4 Lewis Jameson (Whitchurch High), 5 Jac Price (Coleg Sir Gar), 6 Iestyn Rees (c) (Ysgol Bro Dinefwr), 7 Ioan Rhys Davies (Coleg y Cymoedd), 8 Callun James (Coleg y Cymoedd).
Replacements: 16 Morgan Nelson (Hartpury College), 17 Charlie Brabham (SGS Filton College), 18 Archie Griffin (Marlborough College), 19 Teddy Williams (Glantaf), 20 Jac Morgan (Coleg Sir Gar), 21 Dafydd Buckland (Newport High), 22 Evan Lloyd (Coleg Gwent), 23 Osian Knott (Coleg Sir Gar).
England U18 XV:
15 Kieran Wilkinson (Kirkham Grammar & Sale Sharks), 14 Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton School for Boys & Northampton Saints), 13 Ollie Lawrence (Bromsgrove & Worcester Warriors), 12 Jack Reeves (Hartpury College & Gloucester), 11 Jacob Morris (Hartpury College & Gloucester), 10 Tom de Glanville (Beechen Cliff & Bath), 9 Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti (Durham & Newcastle Falcons), 1 Olly Adkins (Hartpury College & Gloucester), 2 Will Capon (Bristol Grammar & Bristol), 3 Alfie Petch (Exeter College & Exeter Chiefs), 4 Tom Jeanes (Beechen Cliff & Bath), 5 Rouban Birch (Sedbergh & Sale Sharks), 6 Richard Capstick (Exeter College & Exeter Chiefs), 7 Sam Dugdale (Kirkham Grammar & Sale Sharks), 8 Tom Marshall (Gosforth Academy & Newcastle Falcons).
Replacements: 16 Kapeli Pifeleti (Haileybury & Saracens), 17 Bevan Rodd (Sedbergh & Sale Sharks), 18 Jack Bartlett (Gloucester Rugby), 19 JJ Tonks (Hartpury College, & Gloucester), 20 Rus Tuima (Exeter College, & Exeter Chiefs), 21 Blake Boyland (SGS Filton College, & Bristol), 22 Will Simonds (The Henley College, & Wasps), 23 Reece Dunn (St Peter’s High School, & Gloucester)
