ENGLAND 10 WALES 13
An injury time try from Blues flanker Dan Franks claimed a narrow but very satisfying victory.
“Any win away to England has to be hard earned,” said Team Manager Cled Edwards. “There was a huge determination running through the side to convince everyone that the win against Australia Schools before Christmas was no fluke.”
Standing up to the big and well drilled England pack, Wales posted notice of their resolve early on when two penalties by fly half Rhys Jones (Sale) edged out one by Wasps fly half Dan Cipriani.
It gained a fighting 6-3 interval lead but despite the efforts of the Welsh pack which had outstanding forwards in Franks, skipper and lock Bradley Davies (Blues) and props Hugh Gustafson (Scarlets) and James Corsi (Dragons), England pressed hard.
Dragons centre Ashley Smith tackled enough for two men and Jones put in some huge kicks to relieve pressure before the Welsh defence eventually ceded.
England got a contentious penalty try after a chip and chase effort from Cipriani was illegally stopped by the Welsh cover and the conversion by the fly half gave England a 10-6 lead with under 10 minutes to go. Then came the dramatic finale …
Wales gained good field position from a Jones kick and a driven line out claimed a try for Franks which was confidently converted by fly half Jones under the watchful eye of his father ex Wales flanker and captain Kingsley Jones.
*** Wales U19 continue their U19 Six Nations campaign at Aberavon on Thursday (KO 7.10 pm) against Scotland who pushed France hard before losing 15-6 on Thursday night at Dalzeil.
Wales U19 Martyn Thomas (UWIC/Scarlets); Alec Jenkins (Carmarthen Quins/Scarlets) (rep James Norris (Newport HSOB/Bettws HS/Dragons) 71′); Ashley Smith (Newport HSOB/Dragons), Jonathan Davies (Dyffryn Taf/Scarlets), James Lewis (Hereford Cath School/Dragons); Rhys Jones (Sale/Exiles), Rob Lewis (Hereford Cath School/Dragons); Hugh Gustafson (UWIC/Scarlets), Ken Owens (Carm Quins/Scarlets), James Corsi (Pontypool/Bassaleg CS/Dragons), Bradley Davies, (Cardiff/Blues) (Capt) (rep James Down (St Peters/Blues) 70′), ,Lou Reed (Llanelli/Coleg Sir Gar/Scarlets), Josh Turnbull (Newcastle Emlyn/Ysgol Emlyn/Scarlets), Lewis Evans (Ebbw Vale/Dragons), Dan Franks, (St David’s Catholic College/Blues)
England U19
Try: Pen try
Con: D Cipriani
Pens: D Cipriani
Wales U19
Try: D Franks
Con; R Jones
Pens: R Jones (2)
Referee: C Marchat (France)
