Wales win SRL Four Nations
16th of June 2012
WALES 20 ENGLAND 18
By Ian Golden at Glyndwr University Racecourse Stadium
Wales are the Student International Champions of the British Isles after beating England 20-18 to lift the Four Nations trophy for the first time in three years.
A draw would have been enough for the Welsh to take the title on points difference but Mark Wool’s final conversion after Yannic Parker’s second try of the evening gave Wales a deserved win.
England had the better of the first half but Wales, fired up by the experienced Clive Griffiths at half-time, fought back after the break and in the end were deserved champions, the best team of the tournament.
The visitors took the lead after an early Welsh mistake gave England possession and they didn’t waste it. Greg Scott forced his way over from close range and Gareth Hynes converted.
Wales had chances to score back after winning a goal-line drop-out then a scrum but both were squandered through mistakes of their own.
Finally, after winning successive sets, Mike Ward ran through after good work from Owain Griffiths and Kristian Hawkes. Mark Wool converted.
England regained the lead when Evan Simons finished off a fine passing move scoring in the corner. Hynes did well to convert.
Wales scored their second after a scrambled set of passes led to Yannic Parker touching down but Wool’s conversion was just wide of the posts.
But England had the last say in the first half. Alistair Leake did well to roll over and ground with Hynes converting to give then an eight-point advantage at the interval.
Wales were fired up after the break and were determined to get over the line first.
Parker almost scored his second, looking to ground Hawkes’ kick but the ball talk an awkward bounce and the chance was lost.
But as soon as Wales regained the ball, they advanced up the field and scored – Lewis Warner going over in the corner after an excellent set of passes. Wool missed the kick and Wales remained four points down.
England looked for a try back to extend their lead but were constantly denied. Scott Ellam was held up over the line and Hamish Locke was brutally but legally pushed into touch, denying both players a score.
And when Wales were awarded a penalty on England’s 30 metre line with six minutes to go, they took advantage. Parker scored his second in the corner after Scott Amber and Mike Ward moved the ball over to the wing. Wool converted to give Wales a 20-18 lead.
WALES
1. Lewis Warner
2. Jason Blackmore
3. Simon Wright
4. Yannic Parker
5. James Gahan
6. Kristian Hawkes
7. Scott Amber
8. Izaak Duffy
9. Owain Griffiths
10. Tom Morgan
11. Mike Ward
12. Luke Evans
13. Mark Wool
Subs:
14. Harrison Elliott
15. Lewys Weaver
16. Callum Wilkinson
17. Nathan Rainer
19. Louis Singleton
20. Tom Beaumont
Tries: Ward (17), Parker (30, 74), Warner (51)
Goals: Wool 1/3
ENGLAND
1. Greg Scott
2. Evan Simons
3. Hamish Locke
4. Marcus Brooker
5. Gareth Hynes
6. Patrick Toft
7. Adam Fairhead
8. James Wallace
9. Scott Ellam
10. Dan Haney
11. Sam Blainey
12. Leigh Sanders
13. Liam Thompson
Subs:
14. Alistair Leake
15. Dion Chapman
16. Jack Powley
18. Tom Davies
19. Matt Bradley
Tries: Scott (7), Simons (21), Leake (38)
Goals: Hynes 3/3
Referee: Danny McNeice
Half-time: 10-18
SCOTLAND 36 IRELAND 24
By Ian Golden at The Glyndwr University Racecourse Stadium
Scotland secured third place in the curtain raiser after racing into a 26-0 half-time lead, but Ireland made a game of it after the interval.
Ireland had the first chance, regaining the ball from kick-off after it bounced into touch with a Scot touching it.
They almost took the lead from the resulting scrum. Ronan Hogan was stopped a metre short before Bobby Stables prevented Joe Taylor from latching on to a grubber.
Scotland recovered and they took the lead on three minutes when Phil Lang fed Crawford Matthews who slipped cleverly through his markers to score. Luke Watling converted.
Aiden Holland increased the Scots lead on 12 minutes after diving in the corner. Watling goaled again.
It was 16-0 three minutes later when Jordan Rice opened up a gap for Phil Laing.
It went from bad to worse for the Irish when substitute Dave Lewis was sinbinned.
Scotland took full advantage when Ben Parker scored after good work from Mikey Stewart, Phil Laing and Crawford Matthews. Watling converted to make the score 22-0.
They almost scored again but Rice was held up over the line preventing his second.
However Crawford Matthews did manage to break through before the interval to complete his brace and make the half-time score 26-0.
Ireland took first blood in the second half after a break from Jason Thong set up the field position. William Wallace went crashing over from close range and Savage converted.
But Scotland readdressed the balance when Mikey Stewart set up Phil Laing to run over. Rice converted.
Ireland were next on the scoresheet. On 56 minutes, Callum Mulkeen scored in the corner after good work from Rob Kershaw and Connor Farrell. Savage converted.
They added to their tally ten minutes later when Jason Thong scored a fine individual effort cutting inside his marker to ground. Savage converted again and Ireland were within 14 points.
Then with eight minutes to go Joe Taylor scored in the corner. Savage’s kick went off both posts before going over to make the score 32-24.
But Laing completed the scoring when he went over for his second and Scotland’s seventh to secure their third place position.
IRELAND
1. Joe Taylor
2. Ronan Hogan
3. Callum Mulkeen
4. Sean Hogan
5. Jason Thong
6. Ken Savage
7. Joel Hinchcliffe
8. Matty Hadden
9. Jamie Ward
10. Sam Wellings
11. JJ Baird
12. William Wallace
13. Robbie Stewart
Subs:
22. Stephen Oakley
15. Rob Kershaw
17. Dave O’Connor
18. Ruari Lynch
19. Dave Lewis
20. Connor Farrell
Tries: Wallace (46), Mulkeen (56), Thong (66), Taylor (72)
Goals: Savage 4/4
SCOTLAND
1. Liam Wallace
3. Aiden Holland
17. Gavin Grant
4. Phil Laing
5. Crawford Matthews
6. Luke Watling
14. Sinclair Matthews
15. Ben Owram
9. Mark Lees
8. Lewis Spencer
12. Callum Boyle
18. Harry Chapman-Walker
13. Jordan Rice
Subs:
10. Bobby Stables
11. Mikey Stewart
16. Ben Parker
7. Doug Crichton
2. Luke Whiteley
19. Brad Marrow
20. James Bird
Tries: C.Matthews (3, 37), Holland (12), Rice (15), Parker (30), Laing (51, 79)
Goals: Watling 3/5, Rice 1/2
Referee: Joachim Abimelech
Half-time: 26-0
By Ian Golden at Glyndwr University Racecourse Stadium
Wales are the Student International Champions of the British Isles after beating England 20-18 to lift the Four Nations trophy for the first time in three years.
A draw would have been enough for the Welsh to take the title on points difference but Mark Wool’s final conversion after Yannic Parker’s second try of the evening gave Wales a deserved win.
England had the better of the first half but Wales, fired up by the experienced Clive Griffiths at half-time, fought back after the break and in the end were deserved champions, the best team of the tournament.
The visitors took the lead after an early Welsh mistake gave England possession and they didn’t waste it. Greg Scott forced his way over from close range and Gareth Hynes converted.
Wales had chances to score back after winning a goal-line drop-out then a scrum but both were squandered through mistakes of their own.
Finally, after winning successive sets, Mike Ward ran through after good work from Owain Griffiths and Kristian Hawkes. Mark Wool converted.
England regained the lead when Evan Simons finished off a fine passing move scoring in the corner. Hynes did well to convert.
Wales scored their second after a scrambled set of passes led to Yannic Parker touching down but Wool’s conversion was just wide of the posts.
But England had the last say in the first half. Alistair Leake did well to roll over and ground with Hynes converting to give then an eight-point advantage at the interval.
Wales were fired up after the break and were determined to get over the line first.
Parker almost scored his second, looking to ground Hawkes’ kick but the ball talk an awkward bounce and the chance was lost.
But as soon as Wales regained the ball, they advanced up the field and scored – Lewis Warner going over in the corner after an excellent set of passes. Wool missed the kick and Wales remained four points down.
England looked for a try back to extend their lead but were constantly denied. Scott Ellam was held up over the line and Hamish Locke was brutally but legally pushed into touch, denying both players a score.
And when Wales were awarded a penalty on England’s 30 metre line with six minutes to go, they took advantage. Parker scored his second in the corner after Scott Amber and Mike Ward moved the ball over to the wing. Wool converted to give Wales a 20-18 lead.
WALES
1. Lewis Warner
2. Jason Blackmore
3. Simon Wright
4. Yannic Parker
5. James Gahan
6. Kristian Hawkes
7. Scott Amber
8. Izaak Duffy
9. Owain Griffiths
10. Tom Morgan
11. Mike Ward
12. Luke Evans
13. Mark Wool
Subs:
14. Harrison Elliott
15. Lewys Weaver
16. Callum Wilkinson
17. Nathan Rainer
19. Louis Singleton
20. Tom Beaumont
Tries: Ward (17), Parker (30, 74), Warner (51)
Goals: Wool 1/3
ENGLAND
1. Greg Scott
2. Evan Simons
3. Hamish Locke
4. Marcus Brooker
5. Gareth Hynes
6. Patrick Toft
7. Adam Fairhead
8. James Wallace
9. Scott Ellam
10. Dan Haney
11. Sam Blainey
12. Leigh Sanders
13. Liam Thompson
Subs:
14. Alistair Leake
15. Dion Chapman
16. Jack Powley
18. Tom Davies
19. Matt Bradley
Tries: Scott (7), Simons (21), Leake (38)
Goals: Hynes 3/3
Referee: Danny McNeice
Half-time: 10-18
SCOTLAND 36 IRELAND 24
By Ian Golden at The Glyndwr University Racecourse Stadium
Scotland secured third place in the curtain raiser after racing into a 26-0 half-time lead, but Ireland made a game of it after the interval.
Ireland had the first chance, regaining the ball from kick-off after it bounced into touch with a Scot touching it.
They almost took the lead from the resulting scrum. Ronan Hogan was stopped a metre short before Bobby Stables prevented Joe Taylor from latching on to a grubber.
Scotland recovered and they took the lead on three minutes when Phil Lang fed Crawford Matthews who slipped cleverly through his markers to score. Luke Watling converted.
Aiden Holland increased the Scots lead on 12 minutes after diving in the corner. Watling goaled again.
It was 16-0 three minutes later when Jordan Rice opened up a gap for Phil Laing.
It went from bad to worse for the Irish when substitute Dave Lewis was sinbinned.
Scotland took full advantage when Ben Parker scored after good work from Mikey Stewart, Phil Laing and Crawford Matthews. Watling converted to make the score 22-0.
They almost scored again but Rice was held up over the line preventing his second.
However Crawford Matthews did manage to break through before the interval to complete his brace and make the half-time score 26-0.
Ireland took first blood in the second half after a break from Jason Thong set up the field position. William Wallace went crashing over from close range and Savage converted.
But Scotland readdressed the balance when Mikey Stewart set up Phil Laing to run over. Rice converted.
Ireland were next on the scoresheet. On 56 minutes, Callum Mulkeen scored in the corner after good work from Rob Kershaw and Connor Farrell. Savage converted.
They added to their tally ten minutes later when Jason Thong scored a fine individual effort cutting inside his marker to ground. Savage converted again and Ireland were within 14 points.
Then with eight minutes to go Joe Taylor scored in the corner. Savage’s kick went off both posts before going over to make the score 32-24.
But Laing completed the scoring when he went over for his second and Scotland’s seventh to secure their third place position.
IRELAND
1. Joe Taylor
2. Ronan Hogan
3. Callum Mulkeen
4. Sean Hogan
5. Jason Thong
6. Ken Savage
7. Joel Hinchcliffe
8. Matty Hadden
9. Jamie Ward
10. Sam Wellings
11. JJ Baird
12. William Wallace
13. Robbie Stewart
Subs:
22. Stephen Oakley
15. Rob Kershaw
17. Dave O’Connor
18. Ruari Lynch
19. Dave Lewis
20. Connor Farrell
Tries: Wallace (46), Mulkeen (56), Thong (66), Taylor (72)
Goals: Savage 4/4
SCOTLAND
1. Liam Wallace
3. Aiden Holland
17. Gavin Grant
4. Phil Laing
5. Crawford Matthews
6. Luke Watling
14. Sinclair Matthews
15. Ben Owram
9. Mark Lees
8. Lewis Spencer
12. Callum Boyle
18. Harry Chapman-Walker
13. Jordan Rice
Subs:
10. Bobby Stables
11. Mikey Stewart
16. Ben Parker
7. Doug Crichton
2. Luke Whiteley
19. Brad Marrow
20. James Bird
Tries: C.Matthews (3, 37), Holland (12), Rice (15), Parker (30), Laing (51, 79)
Goals: Watling 3/5, Rice 1/2
Referee: Joachim Abimelech
Half-time: 26-0
