Wales fail to build on bright start against English
ENGLAND U-20 ............... 37 WALES U-20S ................... 12
WALES were taken apart by the power, panache and precision of England during an Under-20 Six Nations thumping at Newcastle’s Kingston Park.
Coach Jason Strange’s team had trailed 18-5 at the end of a first half which had been almost exclusively dominated by England and it got worse after the interval when the Red Rose took their try haul to four to secure a bonus point.
Wales simply failed to cope with the sheer power of England after taking an early lead against the run of play.
Hot prospect Harri Morgan had created it with a cross-kick for speedster Rio Dyer to run on to and nearly make the try-line.
The ball squirted out of the ruck that followed and came off Morgan’s hand. It went backwards before going forward off his shin, which was legal, and the 17-year-old dived over for an unconverted score. England No.10 James Grayson, the son of 1999 and 2003 World Cup player Paul Grayson, responded with a penalty before creating their opening try with a long pass to Matt Williams to set up scrumhalf Ben White.
Grayson increased the lead with another penalty before converting their second try. It was a cracker with Harlequins product Gabriel Ibitoye coming off the right wing to burst on to Fraser Dingwall’s pass in midfield before off-loading for centre Cameron Redpath, the son of former Scotland scrum-half Bryan Redpath, to score.
Wales needed to score first in the second half to have a chance but tries from Ibitoye and fellow wing Jordan Olowofela finished it off as a contest.
Dyer crossed for a consolation score for Wales but it was too little, too late with Aaron Hinkley rounding off proceedings by getting England’s fifth. Scorers: England – Tries: B White, C Redpath, G Ibitoye, J Olowofela, A Hinkley; cons: J Grayson (3); pens: Grayson (2). Wales – Tries: H Morgan, R Dyer; con: C Evans.