BMW AUSTRALIA U20s FALL TO ENGLAND IN EPIC TUSSLE

Jun 15 • General News, International, Junior Rugby, World Rugby Junior Championship • 1961 Views • Comments Off on BMW AUSTRALIA U20s FALL TO ENGLAND IN EPIC TUSSLE

The BMW Australia U20s have fallen to England in their final Pool B match of the World Rugby U20s Championship 13 to 17 at AJ Bell Stadium in Salford.

In the frequently brutal encounter Australia were unable to crack the strong English defence to score enough tries to ensure a bonus point victory to make it into the top four of the World Rugby U20s Championship.

The result means Australia will join fellow Oceania competitors, New Zealand in the battle to finish fifth alongside Wales and Scotland.

BMW Australia U20s Head Coach Adrian Thompson: “We are disappointed that we could not get the required result against England and will once again have to face the battle for fifth.

“We started the match well but took the pressure off in parts of the match and England capitalised on those errors.

“I was impressed with the team’s character to hang in there for the full 80 minutes but ultimately we need to be better at finishing our opposition off when we have the chance.

“We will dust ourselves off and get ready for an incredibly strong battle to finish fifth with New Zealand, Wales and Scotland.”

BMW Australia U20s Captain James Tuttle: “We took the foot off the throat there in the second half and that let England back into the game.

“They played smart, kicked some penalties and that let them back into the match.

“The boys have a lot of pride every time we put this jersey on and we know we are representing everyone back home. We’ll review and get ready for our next match.”

The opening minute could not have gone any better for Australia, with fullback Jack Maddocks capitalising on an England error to turn the ball over and score under the posts.

The pace of the game dropped a handful of notches after that frenetic start, with a fierce set piece battle putting pressure on the Aussies.

Australia absorbed much of that but still handed away two penalty shots to England flyhalf Harry Mallinder, who successfully kicked one to narrow the margin to four points.

Holding a major weight advantage in the forwards, the Australia U20s started to assert their dominance in the scrums but handling errors in attack cost them chances to punish England on the scoreboard.

A 27th minute penalty to Australia flyhalf Mack Mason stretched Australia’s lead to seven points, before Mallinder replied with another three-pointer of his own.

Mason made England pay for mistakes as the half went on, slotting three first-half goals from as many attempts, also going on to be his final record.

Australia’s playmaker (Mason) had a hand in almost everything his side mounted in attack, including Maddocks’s five-pointer, in a man of the match performance.

Two Harry Mallinder penalties and a try to centre Joe Marchant put England in front with 15 minutes to spare, leaving Australia a mammoth challenge to overcome.

Despite never giving up, the BMW Australia U20s were unable to claim the win against England leaving the final score at 13-17.

Australia will get the chance for revenge against Scotland in the first fifth place play off at AJ Bell Stadium.

England 17 (Joe Marchant tries; cons; Harry Mallinder 4 pens;) defeated Australia 13 (Jack Maddocks tries; Mack Mason cons; Mack Mason 2 pens;)

Photo: World Rugby