Last year’s runners-up Wales fell to a 38-20 defeat to England in the opening game of the 2019 U18 Six Nations Festival at Gillman’s Ground, Hartpury, this afternoon.
England failed to win a game in last year’s tournament held in Wales but five tries in the opening clash ensured the home side began the tournament in winning style.
Ioan Lloyd, Dylan Davies and Mason Grady struck for a Wales side who never gave up but Chris Horsman’s side will now have to regroup before playing their second game of the tournament, against Scotland at Sixways Stadium on Wednesday.
Tom Curtis and Ed Dunford traded penalties before England centre Orlando Bailey scored England’s first try. Wales hit back when full-back Ioan Lloyd chimed in and outstripped the cover defence to score a well taken try.
Dunford levelled things up at 10-10 from the tee but five minutes later Wales were behind again, as England’s forwards kept the defence narrow before Curtis flung a delicious miss-pass out to wing Joe Browning for an easy score.
England’s third came just before half-time as No.8 Nahum Merigan attacked from close range and sent out an incredible backhanded offload and Bailey applied the finish for his second.
In the second half Raphael Quirke made the perfect entrance to the field, the scrum-half on to replace Jack van Poortvliet and making an instant impact with a sniping try from a quickly-taken penalty.
Mallinder’s side led 31-10 and Wales fought desperately to get back into the match, eventually breaking through on the hour as replacement Davies snuck in from short distance.
England’s fifth came down the left flank as Stewart powered through three defenders in the corner, centre Grady having the last say with a devastating outside break from his own half in a fitting way to end an excellent match.
