England Community Lions Under 18s gave a commanding performance in Abitillery, eventually claiming nine tries against their outgunned hosts. Harley Nelson scored 22 points with two tries and seven goals from nine attempts while there was also a brace from Scott Simmons and big efforts from all the front-row forwards in the South Wales heat.
The Lions opened scoring after three minutes when a wide pass put Nelson in space and he zipped through a couple of tackles to go under the posts and also open his goal-kicking account. Simmons scored his first try after seven minutes before further tries from Oliver Smart and Daniel Knott, and another Nelson goal put the Lions 20-0 up within just twenty minutes of play.
The attack continued to look crisp when Henry Ogden added a flowing finish from thirty metres after 24 minutes and Nelson's third goal made it 26-0.
Wales offered some resistance and scored a try of their own after 28 minutes when Connor Lacey ducked three tackles to ground under the posts and Charlie Stoddart converted. Jayden Grey was then held up over the line a couple of minutes later but the Lions finished the half strongly and scored their sixth try when Harry Sheridan kicked forward and the bounce favoured Nelson, who swept through for his second and added his fourth goal to ensure a 32-6 half-time score.
Wales threw all they could muster at the visitors in the second half but they remained steadfast, much to the delight of their coaching staff. Although the rate of scoring slowed, the visitors continued to threaten in attack and Joshua Blinkhorn opened the Lions account after 52 minutes while Luke Sutcliffe followed him on the hour, holding off a defender to cross at the side of the posts.
Ten minutes from time, Harrison Doe was sin-binned and the Lions completed a job well done when Simmons picked them open again from dummy-half and Nelson completed his points haul, and the game with the final kick to bring up the 50-6 win.
Wales: Brandon Richards, Ethan Stebbings, Harrison Doe, Oliver Ford, Ben Morris; Charlie Stoddart, Llewellyn Hawkes; Alex Banks, Jayden Grey, Callum Jones, Carter Barnes, Daniel Bartlett, Connor Lacey.
Subs: Corey Westermark, Jamie Jenkins, William McCarthy, Dafydd Morgan, Dylan Morgan, Rhys Davies, Lewis Jones.
Try: Lacey.
Goal: Stoddart 1.
Lions: Harry Sheridan, Daniel Knott, Oliver Smart (C), Henry Ogden, Harley Nelson; George Jameson, Devan Sharp; Dylan Grears, Scott Simmons, Armand Palinkas, Keane Elms, Ben Metcalf, Luke Sutcliffe.
Subs: Joshua Blinkhorn, Jack Lawler, Malachi Price, Lewis Davies, Tom Farren.
Tries: Nelson 2, Simmons 2, Smart, Knott, Ogden, Blinkhorn, Sutcliffe.
Goals: Nelson 7.
By Dave Parkinson
Image: Ian Lovell
