England 16-group held by late penalty at Leicester
England 19-19 Wales
England were denied a clean sweep of international victories this season in the final minute at Leicester. Replacement fly half Gareth Williams drilled over a 40 metre penalty to earn his side a draw after they had trailed 19-8 with half an hour remaining.
England had won in Wales a week earlier and looked on course for victory in the rematch after taking control before the interval. Whitgift and Kent wing Nick Canty grabbed tries in the 10th and 29th minutes, with school teammate Danny Cipriani adding a penalty. Wales replied with a Gruffud Jones try and Darren Allinson penalty to trail 13-8 at the break.
Fly half Cipriani added a penalty and drop-goal early in the second half to stretch the lead, before the visitors launched their revival. Allinson’s second penalty was followed by a try from Rhondda lock Lou Reed, before Williams stepped up to complete the comeback.
“Perhaps we could have gone on from 19-8 but all credit to Wales,” said 16 Group secretary George Squires. “We had a couple of lapses and they upped their game. Over the course of the season this group of players have done themselves proud and they’ve been a superb bunch to work with.”
The game was the team’s fourth this season after victories against Italy A (52-0) and Italy U17 (22-7) in La Spezia, and last week’s 19-8 win at Pontypridd. |
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