England U20 snatch it at the death at rain-soaked Franklin's Gardens
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England U20 snatch it at the death at rain-soaked Franklin’s Gardens
A near faultless first half performance from Wales in which they scored 16 unanswered points as they went in search of back-to-back wins over England wasn’t enough to clinch victory in Northampton.
Such was the domination from Richard Whiffin’s side in the opening 40 minutes they enjoyed 66% possession and forced four scrum penalties, and eight overall, out of the under-pressure home side in terrible conditions.
There was standing water on the Franklin’s Gardens pitch before the game began and the rain continued to pour during the match to make life almost impossible for both teams.
England lost tight head prop Oliver Streeter with a knock to the head in the early exchanges and that meant Sonny Tonga’uiha was forced into action earlier than expected. The son of former Northampton Saints and Tonga international prop Soane, he had trouble at scrum time to begin with before going on to score a crucial second half try as he used his 6’ 4”, 135kg frame to good advantage.
Wales outside half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, winning his first U20 cap, kept his side on the front foot with his pin-point kicking and gave his side the lead with an early penalty. He was just short from 42 metres in the 25th minute with his second shot at goal but had no problem in converting a try from co-captain Steff Emanuel seven minutes later.
It was nothing less than Wales deserved for their pressure and came from an England mistake as they tried to break away from their five metre line. A dropped ball was hacked over the home line by Leggatt-Jones and Emanuel pounced for the score.
The conversion made it 10-0 and then Leggatt-Jones added two more penalties in the final minutes of the half to make it 16-0 at the break. England had barely fired a shot and the crowd were stunned.
But however pressurised and poor they had been in the first half, England were a different prospect in the second. With some strong words from head coach Andy Titterell no doubt ringing in their ears they came out all guns blazing and got themselves on the scoreboard within the first five minutes with a close range try from Tonga’uiha.
Luke Davidson added the extras, but the home outside half couldn’t improve a 51st minute try from hooker Jim Staples. That came from a close-range line-out – England’s driving maul was strong throughout the rain-soaked evening – and cut the gap to four points.
Whiffin changed five of his pack in quick succession, introducing Dylan James, Isaac Godfrey, Tom Cottle, Evan Minto and Dom Kossuth, to provide new impetus and they helped to hold up Staples over the line on the hour mark.
England then lost Davidson to a red card in the 62nd minute for a reckless and dangerous challenge on opposite number Leggatt-Jones as he chased an up and under. That made England’s chase for a winning score all the harder.
A storming run into the England 22 by replacement prop Godfrey could have led to more for Wales and then a final pass to lock Luke Evans from centre Osian Darwin-Lewis lost another great chance to pick up a second try.
The winning score came in the 75th minute after Wales had lost ground with a charge down kick and then conceded a penalty. The ball was kicked into the corner, and it fell to replacement Victor Worsnip to dive over for the crucial try.
The conversion was added by full back James Pater and victory had been snatched from the jaws of defeat. The Welsh players slumped to their knees at the final whistle, knowing it was a missed opportunity.
But there was plenty of promise in the performance and new caps Osian J Williams, Osian Williams, Tom Howe, Rhys Cummings and Leggatt-Jones all showed promise. Next up it is France at the Arms Park on Friday night.
Scorers: England U20: Tries: S Tonga’uiha, J Staples, V Worsnip; Cons: L Davidson, J Pater. Wales U20: Try: S Emanuel; Con: C Leggatt-Jones; Pens: C Leggatt-Jones (3)
