Anthony Watson dives over for England U18

England U18 38 Wales U18 34

With seconds left on the clock and England 34-31 behind, London Irish wing Anthony Watson touched down for John Fletcher’s men to clinch a tight win. At one point, England found themselves 17 points behind Wales, but clinical finishing in the final ten minutes ensured a memorable victory.

Exeter Chiefs full back Jack Nowell got England off to a dream start, showing a quick turn of pace to dart in between two Welsh players before touching down just wide of the post with one minutes on the clock.  Fellow Chief Henry Slade added the conversion and then scored a penalty to give England a 10-0 lead.

Despite the early setback, Wales soon sprung into life and were eventually rewarded for their efforts, scoring two converted tries in quick succession to give them a 14-10 lead. Wales then added two penalties before the break to give them at 10-point cushion at half time, leading 20-10.

England needed to start the second half as they had done the first, but it was Wales who took the early initiative, scoring shortly after the restart to make the score 27-10.

Northampton Saints prop Danny Herriott then kick-started the England resurgence, burrowing over for England’s second try. But that was almost instantly cancelled out, courtesy of a breakaway fourth Welsh try scored soon after the restart to reestablish their 17-point lead.

With ten minutes left to play, England scored again through the lively Nowell, who touched down for his second try of the game. Northampton Saints fly half Will Hooley converted, but England still trailed by ten points.

Mark Jennings then scored his second try in as many games after a nice side-step move freed up a gap for the Sale Sharks centre to touch down near the posts, Hooley converted to bring England to within three points of Wales.

With 70 minutes on the clock (the games are 35-minutes each way), Watson used his explosive pace to its full effect, dodging several Welsh defenders before diving over between the posts to guarantee England’s spot in the final against Ireland in Tarbes on Saturday, April 23.

England points: Jack Nowell 2T, Danny Herriott 1T, Mark Jennings 1T, Anthony Watson 1T. Henry Slade 2C, 1P, Will Hooley 3C.