Match Report

By Ian Golden

England outscored a tired Wales in the second half of this outstanding contest to win through 48-24.

The Welsh played this match just 45 minutes after beating Scotland, but it was England’s first game of the day and the toil showed in the second half after leading 24-18 at the break.

Wales were determined to take every chance they could against an England side who had never lost to British Isles opposition.

They took a 2-0 lead from a first minute Stephen Halsey penalty but England soon scored their first try via Rob Hawkins that Nathan Collins converted.

Wales levelled through a Scotty Trigg-Turner try and Mark Williams then gave the Dragons a 10-6 advantage with a further try.

Trigg-Turner soon went over for this second which Halsey converted, before adding a penalty to put Wales 18-6 up on 17 minutes.

James Hazel’s try in the corner converted by Collins put England within six points, but Wales soon extended their advantage through an unconverted Harry Jones try.

A Collins try and conversion brought England back into it again, but a Halsey penalty gave Wales a 24-18 lead at the break.

England came storming out of the traps in the second half and scored two quick tries. Lewis King and Tom Halliwell grounding with Halliwell converting both.

That was in the 44th minute and there was no further score until the 68th minute as the game turned into an exhilarating defensive battle where no-one was giving way. The crowd were loving the clashes of the chairs and the crunches of the big hits that would have put running rugby league to shame.

Finally England’s Fred Nye found a gap and joyfully wheeled through to score, converting his own try.

The same player extended England’s lead less than three minutes later with Halliwell converting.

Jodie Boyd-Ward’s try with five minutes remaining put the icing on the cake for the English. Halliwell converted again.