England Under 18 Clubs and Schools beaten in France

ENGLAND Under 18 Clubs and Schools were beaten 23-9 by France Under 18 A in their second and final match at the Tri Nations Festival at the French National Training Centre in Marcoussis today.

England led twice in the first half through three penalties from fly-half Dan Lewis but France struck an important blow when they scored a converted try just before half-time.

“It was a really good, competitive game of rugby and I think France were surprised just how much of a game we gave them,” said England head coach Dave Reed.

“They had a really good winger who was probably the difference between the sides but they were just as physical as we expected France to be and we coped well.”

Although England, who were also beaten by Ireland Under 18 Clubs in their opening match, lost both of their matches at the festival, Reed was delighted with the efforts of his squad.

“It has been a fantastic week and giving young players in the aspirational pathway the opportunity to play two internationals in a week at the French National Training Centre is something that they can only benefit from,” Reed said.

“There have been 24 brand new friendships formed during this campaign and players are already talking about travelling from Cheltenham to Durham and Cornwall to London to meet up this summer.

“That is all part of experience of tournaments like this and they have been fantastic ambassadors for the game and for the RFU.”

England Under 18 Clubs and Schools v France Under 18 A:

15 Charlie Dockery (Epsom College and Surrey - captain)

14 Michael Ledger (St Benedicts Ealing and Middlesex)

13 Ben Dixon (Carre’s GS, Newark RFC and NLD)

12 Charles Dunbar (Stamford School and NLD)

11 James Neal (Hartpury College and Warwickshire)

10 Dan Lewis ((St Joseph’s Ipswich, Bedford Blues and Eastern Counties)

9 Ben Pointon (Rugby School, Northampton Saints and East Midlands)

1 Josh Waller (Peterborough Regional College, Peterborough RFC and East Midlands)

2 Locryn Williams  (Truro School and Cornwall)

3 Charlie Brown (Southend HS, Westcliff RFC and Essex)

4 Adam Thresher ((Judd School, Sevenoaks RFC and Kent)

5 Tom Bell (Uppingham School and Leicestershire)

6 Alex Brown (Oaklands College, Saracens RFC and Hertfordshire)

7 Michael Dewar (Abingdon School and Oxfordshire)

8 Dale Lemon (Cleeve School, Cheltenham RFC and Gloucestershire)

Replacements used:

Owen Griffiths (Moulton College, Biggleswade RFC and East Midlands)

Adam Brocklebank (Myerscough College and Lancashire)

Jay Tyack (Bryanston School, Truro RFC and Cornwall)

Liam Parfitt (Rishworth School and Lancashire)

Cameron Lee-Everton (Moulton College and East Midlands)

Tom Morgan (Stonyhurst College and Lancashire)

DURHAM back row forward Jonny Coser will captain England Under 18 Clubs and Schools in the Tri-Nations Tournament in France later this month.

Coser, of Barnard Castle School, will have two vice-captains in Harry Sheppard (Moulton College and East Midlands) and Charlie Dockery (Epsom College and Surrey).

England will play Ireland Under 18 Clubs in their opening match in the tournament at Marcoussis on April 16 (3pm) and then play hosts France Under 18 A on April 20 (1.30pm).

England completed their preparations with a final training camp at Loughborough University last weekend.

“The lads have gelled really quickly and the pace of the training sessions was certainly at a very high level. Both coaches  Dave Reed and Giles Heagerty felt all the lads justified their selection,” said team manager John Porter-Griffiths

ENGLAND Under 18 Clubs and Schools were beaten 30-22 by Ireland Under 18 Clubs in their opening match of the Tri-Nations Festival at the French National Rugby Centre in Marcoussis today.

England led twice in a strongly-contested and open contest but were edged out by a combative Ireland side.

“It was a very open-ended contest and towards the end we were really pushing them hard,” said England head coach Dave Reed.

“But we couldn’t quite get over the line and, unfortunately, we gave away too many penalties.

“We had a French referee and it was the first time that most of the players had players had played with a foreign referee.

“But that it was great experience for them and part of education process that goes with playing international rugby.

“We will give the players a day off on Thursday and we are really looking forward to getting back on the training paddock on Friday ahead of our match against France Under 18 A on Sunday.”

England will give fitness checks to captain Jonny Coser and his back-row colleague Liam Parfitt, who both suffered shoulder injuries today, before they name their side to face France on Sunday (1.30pm local time).

England tries today were scored by lock Tommy Bell from a line-out catch-and-drive, full-back Cahrlie Dockery from an excellent backs move and number eight Alex Brown from a turnover.

Fly-half Harry Shepherd converted two of the tries and he also kicked a penalty to cap an impressive display in partnership with scrum-half Cameron Lee-Everton

England Under 18 Clubs and Schools

15 Charlie Dockery (Epson College and Surrey)
14 Michael Ledger (St Benedicts Ealing and Middlesex)
13 Conor Bullivant (Moulton College, Northampton Old Scouts RFC and East Midlands)
12 Tom Morgan (Stonyhurst College and Lancashire)
11 James Neal (Hartpury College and Warwickshire)
10 Harry Shepherd (Moulton College and East Midlands)
9 Cameron Lee-Everton (Moulton College and East Midlands)

1 Adam Brocklebank (Myerscough College and Lancashire)
2 Owen Griffiths (Moulton College, Biggleswade RFC and East Midlands)
3 Jay Tyack (Bryanston School, Truro RFC and Cornwall)
4 Tom Bell (Uppingham School and Leicestershire)
5 Adam Thresher (Judd School, Sevenoaks RFC and Kent)
6 Jonny Coser (Barnard Castle School and Durham, captain)
7 Liam Parfitt (Rishworth School and Lancashire)
8 Alex Brown (Oaklands College, Saracens RFC and Hertfordshire)

Replacements used:

Locryn Williams (Truro School and Cornwall)
Charlie Brown (Southend HS, Westcliff RFC and Essex)
Josh Waller (Peterborough Regional College, Peterborough RFC and East Midlands)
Michael Dewar (Abingdon School and Oxfordshire)
Dale Lemon (Cleeve School, Cheltenham RFC and Gloucestershire)
Charlie Dunbar (Stamford School and NLD)