England Universities won their 14th Student Rugby League Four Nations title in Pontypridd on Saturday as they hammered Wales Students 80-6 in a highly charged game in Pontypridd.
The result not only left Wales winless for the first time in the 17 Four Nations tournaments that have been held, but it was the worst defeat in the history of Wales Students, beating the 74-6 loss to Australia in Brisbane in 2005.
Wales had all the loud vocal support from the other Celtic nations as well as the local fans from community clubs, but it was England who took a quick 12-0 lead.
Nathan Redmond ran over for England’s first try in the third minute, converting his own try. He soon added to England’s lead, scoring again from kick-off and converting again.
Wales hit back on 10 minutes. Shane Lee leapt on a grubber to score under the posts. Ryan Griffiths converted.
But England were next to score when Charlie McCurrie dived over and Redmond converted.
Adam Lavin scored England’s fourth try but as a result, Wales went temporarily down to 12 men as Shane Lee fouled the scorer after he’d grounded. Redmond converted.
While he was off, Iwan Orr scored a brace of tries and Redmond converted the first to put England 34-6 up on 28 minutes. He completed his hat-trick just after Lee returned to the field with Redmond improved.
From kick-off, Jack Cherry ran half the length of the field and Redmond again converted and England were 46-6 up at half-time.
It didn’t start well for Wales from kick-off. They kicked the ball into touch on the full and from the penalty, England scored through Joe Riley to bring up 50 points. The conversion was missed.
Redmond completed his hat-trick on 44 minutes and converted it himself.
And when Ben Cripps was given a red card for punching in the 50th minute, England continued to score. Christian Gale went over three minutes later and that was quickly followed by Nathan Rushworth.
Aaron Powell’s try was converted by Redmond on 74 minutes to bring up 74 points, equally the most conceded by a Wales Students side.
The Cherry on the top for England came three minutes later as Jack scored his second of the game. An outstanding touchline kick from Redmond brought up 80 points.
WALES
15 Will Lynch (Liverpool John Moore University)
22 Dylan Morgan (Coleg y Cymoedd)
3 Jacob Purcell (Cardiff Metropolitan University)
4 Cam Hodgson (University of Central Lancashire)
18 Jamie Leech (University of South Wales)
1 Ryan Griffiths (Open University)
17 Shane Lee (Coleg y Cymoedd)
11 Scott Simons (Cardiff Metropolitan University)
20 Joe Reardon (Cardiff Metropolitan University)
14 Kyle Jones (University of Wolverhampton)
2 Max Walsh (Bangor University)
9 Gabe Holt (University of Central Lancashire)
7 Ben Luxford (Birmingham University)
Subs:
12 Harrison Ashby (University of Nottingham)
5 Iestyn Milburn (Bangor University)
8 Garin Nicholls (Abingdon & Witney College)
26 Ben Cripps (University of Gloucestershire)
18th:
19 Jake Redmond (Bangor University)
Tries: Lee (10)
Goals: Griffiths 1/1
Sin Bin: 24 Mins: Shane Lee – late hit
Sent Off: 50 Mins: Ben Cripps - punching
ENGLAND
1 Nathan Redmond (Loughborough University)
2 Mike Holden (University of Glouvestershire)
21 Iwan Orr (Leeds Beckett University)
4 Leon Stewart (University of Hull)
5 Jack Cherry (University of Nottingham)
6 Matty Rudd (Manchester Metropolitan University)
7 Joe Riley (University of Leeds)
16 Aaron Powell (University of Warwick)
9 Alfie Crawford (Leeds Beckett University)
15 Adam Lavin (Lancaster University)
11 Charlie McCurrie (University of Leicester)
24 Isaac Coleman (University of York)
29 Nathan Rushworth (Northumbria University)
Subs:
8 Christian Gale (London South Bank University)
10 Jordan Bull (Leeds Beckett University)
12 Daniel White (Northumbria University)
13 Jake Lightowler (Northumbria University)
18th:
3 Joe Wardill (Leeds Beckett University)
Tries: Redmond (3, 5, 44), McCurrie (14), Lavin (18), Orr (24, 27, 32), Cherry (35, 77), Riley (41), Gale (53), Rushworth (63), Powell (74)
Goals: Redmond 11/13
Referee: Kristoff Young
