News
ENGLAND North Under 16s maintained their unbeaten record at the BMW Wellington International Festival with a hard-earned 18-8 win over a stubborn Netherlands Under 17s side in Berkshire today.
England North trailed by eight points at the break but a much-improved second half display enabled them to score 18 unanswered points and to follow up Sunday’s victory over France Under 16 B with another win. A try from Darren Atkins (Millfield School, Winscombe RFC and Somerset) finally breached the Netherlands’ well-organised defence when the full-back hit the line at pace.
Centre Loewy Simmons (St Richard’s Catholic College, Hove RFC and Sussex) followed from a tapped penalty and fly-half Mark Dixon (Lymm HS, Lymm RFC and Cheshire) slotted two penalties and a conversion to stretch the lead. Tight defence kept the Netherlands at bay in the second half and sent England North into their final match at the festival, against Belgium Under 17s on Friday April 5 (11am) in good heart.
England South, who drew 22-22 with France Under 16 A in a thriller on Sunday, play their second match at the festival tomorrow (April 3) against Scotland Under 16s on the Wellington College first team pitch at 2.30pm.
England South will bring down the curtain on the BMW Wellington International Festival when they play United States Under 17s on the main pitch on April 5 at 1.30pm.
