Last-gasp try for England Under 18s seals 17-15 win against
By RFU Press
August 13 2013
A last-gasp try from prop Alex Lundberg and a pressure conversion from fly half Sam Olver gave England Under 18s a 17-15 win against Wales at Outeniqua Park in George.England had trailed 15-10 with time up before Lundberg spotted a gap and crashed through.
.
England U18s 17-15 Wales Head Coach John Fletcher’s side started the brighter of the two sides and were ahead with less than a minute on the clock when the ball fell to scrum half James Mitchell who made no mistake touching down in the corner. Wales saw two kickable penalties sail wide of the posts as both sides cancelled each other out. A quick burst from wing Nathan Earle gave England good field position with 30 played but Wales cleared their lines as the half drew to a close. The Welsh started the second half as England started the first – scoring a try within 60 seconds. A smart break infield from the Welsh fly half eventually freed up wing Ashton Hewitt, who out-paced the English defence to go over the line. Wales extended their lead with 50 played when inside centre Garyn Smith went over to make it 12-5. England fly half Josh Sharp then saw two penalties sail wide before England’s young guns eventually turned possession into points when wing Josh Skelcey dived over, but replacement No. 10 Olver’s conversion fell just short. With just two points between the sides at 12-10 Wales forced a penalty to make it 15-10 with under minute to go before Lundberg’s try and Olver’s conversion gave England the win. Fletcher said: “It was a high pressure kick for Sam but I’m not surprised that he knocked it over – he has a fantastic attitude and I had every faith in him. I don’t want to sensationalise him but he certainly has the attitude and the character of some of the best fly half’s that I’ve worked with. He's done a lot of work with kicking coach Jon Callard - as has Josh Sharp - and I thought we kicked intelligently today, which is a credit to the lads, and to JC. “We always knew that this was going to be a tough game, the conditions probably didn’t help – it was pretty wet. But saying that, I was pleased with the way the forwards played, the backs didn’t get going as much as we would have liked, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. Focus is now on our final game against France and we want to end the tour on a real high.” Olver added: “I could see my heart pumping through my chest as I was about to take the kick! I knew after we scored the try that it was 15-15 and that the pressure was on. But I just focused on my routine and I was delighted to see it fly between the sticks. It’s why you put the hours in on the training ground, and although you can’t replicate the pressure, you can replicate your process, and like I say – I was just over the moon that it went over and that we got the win.” Points: Mitchell 1T, Skelcey 1T, Lundberg 1T; Olver 1C England Under 18s side against Wales 1 Luke Chapman (Truro College & Exeter Chiefs) Replacements: 16 Cameron Neild (Manchester Grammar & Sale Sharks) on for Jack Walker 56 mins |
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Big game against the French, and a win will make this a good tour.