England youngsters make bright start

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 16:09:00 +0200

England's Under-18s opened their tour to South Africa with a 35-10 win over a Namibia Invitation team in East London on Saturday.

A young side led by Leeds flank Chris Walker ran in five tries - three of them in a breathtaking 10-minute opening spell - to control the game against a bigger opposition side.

They now move on to face France Under-18 in George on July 20 and South Africa U18 on July 23 (in Port Elizabeth).

Debutants Jack Arnott and Sam Hill both struck early on with Nick Auterac, Will Spencer and Nathan Moris also touching down and Tommy Bell kicking five conversions.

Bell's break created the opening for St Boniface's and Exeter Chiefs centre Arnott to strike in the third minute before midfield partner Hill (Ivybridge College and Exeter Chiefs) finished off after Billy Vunipola had dented the Namibia defence.

When Oaklands and Saracens prop Auterac powered his way over and Bell converted, England were 21-0 up after 10 minutes.

They could not add to the score before half-time and Namibia pulled 10 points back early in the second half with a penalty, try and conversion.

But St Paul's and Bath lock Will Spencer's 50th minute try regained control and replacement hooker Moris (Sedbergh & Newcastle Falcons) killed off any chance of a comeback with the final score 10 minutes from time.

England head coach John Fletcher said afterwards: "This was our first outing for a long time with a lot of young players involved for the first time so it was a decent performance against a much bigger and physically more mature side.

"We've scored five good tries and could have scored a few more but for a lack of precision in places, so it's a really positive start to the trip."

The scorers:

For England:
Tries: Arnott, Hill, Auterac, Spencer, Morris
Cons: Bell 5

For Namibia:
Try: N/A
Con: N/A
Pen: N/A

The teams:

England Under-18: 15 Anthony Watson (St George's College, Weybridge & London Irish), 14 Jack Arnott (St Boniface's College & Exeter Chiefs), 13 Sam Hill (Ivybridge College & Exeter Chiefs), 12 Tommy Bell (Bacup and Rawtenstall GS & Sale Sharks), 11 Charlie Walker (Oakham & Harlequins), 10 Henry Slade (Plymouth College & Exeter Chiefs), 9 Joel Hodgson (RGS Newcastle & Newcastle Falcons), 8 Billy Vunipola (Harrow & London Wasps - vice-captain), 7 Chris Walker (Prince Henry's GS, Otley & Leeds Carnegie - captain), 6 Sam Northcote-Green (Dulwich College & London Wasps), 5 Dominic Barrow (Prince Henry's GS, Otley & Leeds Carnegie), 4 Will Spencer (St Paul's Catholic & Bath Rugby), 3 Anthony Brennan (Twyford CofE & London Wasps), 2 Koree Britton (Ivybridge College & Gloucester Rugby), 1 Nick Auterac (Oaklands College & Saracens).
Replacements: 16 Nathan Moris (Sedbergh & Newcastle Falcons), 17 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Truro College & Exeter Chiefs), 18 Kyle Sinckler (Epsom College & Harlequins), 19 Tom Jubb (Oaklands College & Saracens), 20 Will Skuse (Bryanston & Bath Rugby), 21 Dan Robson (Hartpury College & Gloucester Rugby), 22 Elliot Daly (Whitgift & London Wasps), 23 Ben Ransom (Tonbridge & Saracens).

Namibia Under-18: N/A