Wales claimed the U16 Four Nations for the third year in a row after beating England 18-0 on a hot Saturday lunchtime.

Wales dominated the first half, taking the lead on six minutes when Ioan Herbert finished off a good passing move to score in the corner. Matthew Clatworthy’s conversion was wide.

This was quickly followed up with a second try as Elis Thomas ran in under the sticks and Clatworthy’s easy goal put the score onto 10-0.

Wales were excelling in defence too, stopping England’s captain Tyce Walmsley as he attempted to score in the final tackle of a set.

From the next set, Evan Benjamin made a good run to score Wales’ third try, with Clatworthy soon adding their fourth. Neither try was converted so Wales went into half-time 18-0 up and just 35 minutes away from an historic threepeat.

The second half was a far tighter affair, with both sides looking solid in defence with try saving tackles coming at both ends of the field.

With the game entering the last ten minutes, mistakes were cropping in from both sides. Harry Conway looked like he was going to get, or create an England try, but passing went astray and the ball bounced into touch, but off a Wales player.

England then threw everything at Wales with set of six on the visitor’s 20-metre line, but all it led to was a hold-up over the line and a throw into touch.

"The players have worked very hard for 6 months to get to this point" noted Wales Head Coach Paul Berry. "We were very good in the first twenty minutes before it became a scrappy game in the heat, but that's the sign of a champion team that you can play badly and still come up with the win. The players fully deserve it!"
 
England
Daniel Appleyard, Regan Packman, Maverick Rhodes, Rio York, Lewis Walling, Dylan Shaw, Mason Hunter, Adam Marsh, Max Mulqueeny, Harry Mikail, Alfie Thomas, Jaden Denis, Tyce Walmsley.
Interchanges: William Ashton, Harry Conway, Jack Worthington, Rhys Bold,  Deen Pattinson,  Eddie Calvin,  Billy Joe Towers.

Wales
Scott Hewitt, Ioan Herbert, Elis Thomas, Evan Benjamin, Harry Wrigglesworth, Matthew Clatworthy, Kelyn Jude-Hobbs, Will Mathers,  Zac Nottingham, Tyler Mills, Lewis Mathias, Charlie Eatly, Ed Williams.
Interchanges: Charlie Burrows, Rhys Wood, Ronan Parry, Eddie Ashman, Noah Johnson, Will Dawkins, Jake Leighton.

Tries: Ioan Herbert (6), Elis Thomas (11), Evan Benjamin (18), Matthew Clatworthy (32)
Goals: Matthew Clatworthy 1/4