#EnglandRL
England Youth sealed a 28-18 win over France U16s in Newcastle on Friday as they fought back from a two point deficit with just over 10 minutes remaining, in a match punctuated by handling errors and penalties on a damp evening.
It was a scrappy first half where both sides struggled to cope with greasy conditions and while both sides were showing ambition and attacking at pace, the final pass wasn’t finding its man.
When the deadlock was broken, it went the way of England, with Joshua Simm cutting through a gap on an angled run for a straightforward try after French indiscipline gave them a fresh set of six. Simm's try was converted by Riley Dean.
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France narrowed the gap to two points with a silky score as the half hour approached with a flowing attacking move finished by Robin Brochon, who darted in along the touchline, before they levelled the scores with a penalty goal from Timothe Bertrand towards the end of the first half.
England came out firing from the half time break and two quick penalties against France gave England an early opportunity to attack, but they had to wait until ten minutes in before Ritchie Westwood skipped his way in from 10m out.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cameron Lees & Yusuf Aydin both made their <a href="https://twitter.com/England_RL">@England_RL</a> debuts in a 28 - 18 victory over <a href="https://twitter.com/FFRXIII">@FFRXIII</a> in Newcastle earlier today <a href="https://t.co/KpXVELP7JZ">pic.twitter.com/KpXVELP7JZ</a></p>— Richard Kelly (@RKelly6of6) <a href="https://twitter.com/RKelly6of6/status/852977069063589889">April 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
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France were able to equalise through Romain Kheuimi though England edged ahead by four as the hour drew up, with Reece Hamlett winning a footrace through to a well kicked ball from Riley Dean.
Following a prolonged period of possession and territory, France took a deserved lead thanks to a converted try from Pierre Jean Lime but it was the spark that galvanised England as they went in pursuit of the win.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">That's what winning looks like!!!! Now bring your best back to camo Sunday <a href="https://twitter.com/England_RL">@England_RL</a> Youth only half the job done <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WallOfWhite?src=hash">#WallOfWhite</a> <a href="https://t.co/SZqj6xw5A7">pic.twitter.com/SZqj6xw5A7</a></p>— Alan Hunte (@alanhunte) <a href="https://twitter.com/alanhunte/status/852973220693192704">April 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
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A Tom Holroyd try and another Dean conversion gave the home side a two point lead, before some gloss was added to the result thanks to a converted try from Ben Dobson.
The back rower was fed a great ball by Westwood 60 metres out and backed himself as he surged to the line.
England Youth
Riley Dean, Dominic Young, Jack Broadbent, Max Roberts, Reece Hamlett, Ryan Forshaw, Ritchie Westwood, Eribe Doro, Amir Bourouh, Jack Wright, Joshua Simm, Oliver Waite, Morgan Smithies, Cameron Lees, Ben Dobson, Yusuf Ayoin, Tom Holroyd
Try Scorers: Simm, Westwood, Hamlett, Holroyd, Dobson
Goal: Dean 4/5
France U16
Alan Baby, Guillaume Gorka, Pierre Fourquet, Louis Carre, Robin Brochon, Guilhem Munuera, Timothe Bertrand, Hugo Salabid, Hugo Lacans, Romain Kheuimi, Valentin afra, Pierre Jean Lime, Arnaud Hack, Hugo Bravo, Francois Oorce, Mathieu Cozza, Julian Berou
Try Scorers: Brochon, Kheuimi, Fourquet
Goal: Bertrand 3/4
