Wales claimed the U16 Four Nations for the third year in a row after beating England 18-0 on a hot Saturday lunchtime.

It was an historic win for Wales Rugby League as it was only the second time that a Welsh side had shut out England in a competitive international match. The only other time was on 7th November 1936, when Wales men beat England 3-0 at Taff Vale Park in Pontypridd.

Despite no-one scoring in the second half, the match was exciting and competitive from start to finish.

Wales took the lead on six minutes when Ioan Herbert finished off a good passing move to score in the corner. Matthew Clatworthy’s conversion was wide.

This was quickly followed up with a second try as Elis Thomas ran in under the sticks and Clatworthy’s easy goal put the score onto 10-0.

Wales were excelling in defence too, stopping England’s captain Tyce Walmsley as he attempted to score in the final tackle of a set.

From the next set, Evan Benjamin made a good run to score Wales’ third try, with Clatworthy soon adding their fourth. Neither try was converted so Wales went into half-time 18-0 up and just 35 minutes away from an historic threepeat.

The second half was a far tighter affair, with both sides looking solid in defence with try saving tackles coming at both ends of the field.

With the game entering the last ten minutes, mistakes were cropping in from noth sides. Harry Conway looked like he was going to get, or create an England try, but passing went astray and the ball bounced into touch, but off a Wales player.

England then threw everything at Wales with set of six on Wales’ 20-metre line, but all it led to was a hold-up over the line and a throw into touch.

And that was it. Wales had shut out England for the first time ever in a competitive match outside of the men’s team and secured their third U16s Four Nations title in a row.

England: 16 Daniel Appleyard (Rochdale Mayfield), 2 Regan Packman (Crosfields), 3 Maverick Rhodes (Queensbury), 4 Rio York (Ulverston), 5 Lewis Walling (Maryport), 15 Dylan Shaw (Oulton Raiders), 7 Mason Hunter (Thatto Heath), 20 Adam Marsh (Orrell St James), 9 Max Mulqueeny (Crosfields), 10 Harry Mikail (Thatto Heath), 11 Alfie Thomas (Siddal), 19 Jaden Denis (Beverley Braces), 13 Tyce Walmsley (Lowca, capt). Subs: 8 William Ashton (Beverley Braves), 12 Harry Conway (Wigan St Judes), 14 Jack Worthington (Wigan St Judes), 17 Rhys Bold (Seaton Rangers), 18 Deen Pattinson (Wath Brow Hornets), 22 Eddie Calvin (Seaton), 25 Billy Joe Towers (Wath Brow Hornets).

Wales: 1 Scott Hewitt (Dewsbury Moor/Thornhill Community Academy), 2 Ioan Herbert (Bridgend Blue Bulls/Gowerton School), 3 Elis Thomas (Bridgend Blue Bulls/Ysgol Gyfun Bro Dur), 4 Evan Benjamin (Bridgend Blue Bulls/Pencoed Comprehensive), 5 Harry Wrigglesworth (Swansea Rams/Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Myrddin), 6 Matthew Clatworthy (Bridgend Blue Bulls/Porthcawl Comprehensive), 7 Kelyn Jude-Hobbs (Torfaen Tigers/Croesyceiliog Comprehensive), 8 Will Mathers (Kippax Welfare/Castleford Academy), 9 Zac Nottingham (West Wales Jets/Dyffryn Aman), 10 Tyler Mills (Crosfields/Great Sankey High School),  11 Lewis Mathias (Crosfields ARLFC/Great Sankey High School), 12 Charlie Eatly (West Wales Jets/Ysgol Gyfun Y Strade), 13 Ed Williams (Seaton Rangers/Cockermouth School). Subs: 14 Charlie Burrows (Torfaen Tigers/West Monmouth), 15 Rhys Wood (Aber Valley Wolves/Heolddu Comprehensive School), 16 Ronan Parry (Orrell/Upholland High School), 17 Eddie Ashman (Kippax Welfare/Harrogate Grammar), 18 Noah Johnson (Aber Valley Wolves/Corpus Christi High School), 19 Will Dawkins/Bridgend Blue Bulls/Bryntirion Comprehensive School, 20 Jake Leighton (Torfaen Tigers/West Monmouth)

 

England took the U18 Four Nations title after beating Wales 34-0.

The English dominated the match and were 24-0 up at the break as Wales couldn’t do a Four Nations double at Widnes.

Jake Lerigo had the first chance for England, but he was stopped in his tracks just a metre from the line, causing him to drop the ball.

Zak Bennett did eventually go over the line in the 12th minute to give the hosts the lead. Max Fleary converted well.

Dan Wilds nearly scored a try back for Wales but was stopped short of the line on the final tackle of a set.

Following that, a length of the field set culminated in Trent Ruddy scoring England’s second try with Fleary again adding the goal.

England continued to dominate as quick fire tries from Fleary, then Rio Walker, plus two goals from Fleary put the half-time score onto 24-0.

It took 14 minutes for England to add to their score. Ethan Gaffney ran over for their fifth try and Will Randall converted.

And with five minutes to go, Connor Hall charged through to put the icing on the cake for England.

England: 14 Eligh Wilkinson (West Hull), 1 Kieran Horner (King Cross Park), 19 Rio Walker (Millom), 3 Rhomen Alick (Wath Brow Hornets), 5 Ethan Gaffney (Latchford Giants), 6 Will Randall (Eastern Rhinos), 7 Max Fleary (Newsome Panthers), 17 Harrison Dickinson (Newton Storm), 9 Bailey Worthington (Distington), 10 Jake Lerigo (Gateshead Storm), 12 Zak Bennett Halton (Farnworth Hornets), 4 Kier Starkie (Hensingham), 11 Connor Hall (Wigan St Judes). Subs: 2 Xenden Callander (Lowca), 8 Louey Pinkerton (Skirlaugh), 15 Jack Barker (Millom), 16 Trent Ruddy (Barrow Island), 18 Alfie McCulloch (Leigh Miners Rangers), 20 Josh Smith (Brentwood Eels).

Wales: 1 Ethan Williams (Cynon Valley Cavaliers), 2 Alex Richardson (Latchford Giants), 3 Evan Rowlands (North Wales Crusaders), 4 Jack Wilcox (Swansea Rams), 5 Ralf Roberts (Halton Farnworth Hornets), 6 Joshua Gabrielsen (Bridgend Blue Bulls), 7 Dan Wilds (Swansea Rams), 8 Jacob Morris (Cynon Valley Cavaliers), 9 Kyson Rees (Swansea Rams), 10 Ollie Bellavia-Walker (South Wales Jets), 11 Regan Preece (Swansea Rams), 12 Oscar Jones (Bridgend Blue Bulls), 13 Charlie Thomas (Swansea Rams). Subs: 14 Oliver Rees (Swansea Rams), 15 Rhodri Roberts (Swansea Rams), 16 Rhys Hughes (Swansea Rams), 17 James Tucker (Swansea Rams), 18 Bobi Jones (Swansea Rams), 19 Cae Jones (Torfaen Tigers), 20 Reuben Malson (Torfaen Tigers).