|
And the result means they must take something - a win wourl remove other results from the equation - out of Friday’s final group game against New Zealand to stay in contention for a shot at a first-ever title.
England had made seven changes from the side that started the 20-12 win over Samoa, notably at hooker, where Scott Freer made a first start, and in bringing in new half-backs in Richard Bolt and Gareth Griffiths.
They settled quickly, though, dominating territory in the opening quarter and working themselves into good positions before claiming an opening try after 10 minutes.
Captain Ellis opted for a close-range lineout rather than kick at goal and then ploughed over on the left from the driving maul that followed with Goode converting with the aid of a stiff breeze.
The lead lasted only five minutes, though, when the young Pumas took advantage of a sizeable blindside gap to give wing Ignacio Poet Belmonte a run-in from 20 metres out.
But England finished the half looking increasingly dangerous out wide and struck five minutes before the break through Tait.
The Newcastle Falcons centre – brother of England star Mathew – blasted through a huge hole in the Argentina midfield and rode the tackle of full-back Belisario Agulla to score.
Goode’s conversion made it 14-5 at the interval although England had one let-off when Nicolas Sanchez somehow missed the target from in front of the posts.
Saracens full-back Goode made no such mistake from 35 metres out early in the second-half with Sanchez replying after 45 minutes.
And that was the cue for Argentina to step up a gear and dominate the next few minutes as they game broke up with a series of breaks leading to replacement Guillermo Roan scoring 15 minutes from time with Sanchez’s conversion cutting England’s advantage to two points.
England re-established themselves in the final 10 minutes, though, by controlling territory with some precise kicking into the wind to ease the pressure and some cool-headed defence.
England Under-19: Alex Goode (Saracens); David Smith (Northampton Saints), Tom Bedford (Exeter Chiefs), Alex Tait (Newcastle Falcons), Miles Benjamin (Worcester Warriors; Noah Cato, Saracens, 62); Gareth Griffiths (Bristol Rugby), Richard Bolt (Exeter Chiefs; Danny Pointon, Northampton Saints 44); Jack Steadman (Bristol Rugby; Billy Moss, Bath Rugby 50), Scott Freer (Leeds Tykes), Alex Corbisiero (London Irish; Nathan Catt, Bath Rugby, 62), Ben Thomas (Saracens), Gregor Gillanders (Leicester Tigers; Scott Hobson, Cornish Pirates 44), Matt Cox (Worcester Warriors), Garth Dew (Sale Sharks; Andy Saull, Saracens & Bancrofts School, 63), Hugo Ellis (captain, London Wasps).
Replacements (not used): Joe Williams (Cinderford), Jon Fisher (London Irish & Wellington College), Joe Simpson (London Wasps), Adam Greendale (Leeds Tykes & Hymers College), Greg King (Worcester Warriors & Hartpury College).
Argentina Under-19: Belisario Agulla (captain); Ignacio Poet Belmonte, Juan Pablo Socino, Federico Sanchez, Diego Palma; Matias Thomas, Martin Landajo; Juan Figallo, Roberton Tejerizo, Facundo Corimayo, Jorge Hill Basilio, Anibal Panzeira Garrido, Marcos Insua, Guido Lofiego, Francisco Panessi.
Replacements: Ignacio di Santi, Jeronimo Negroto, Javier Perez, Lisandro Ahaulli de Chaza, Juan Pablo Estelles, Federico Durba, Guillermo Roan, Nicolas Andres, Juan Mangione, Manuel Trebucq, Cristian Etchart.
ends |
