Conlon helps England to lift JWC title

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs forward Joel Conlon was on the scoresheet as England Under-20s successfully claimed the IRB Junior World Champions for 2014 after beating South Africa 21-20 in a pulsating final at Eden Park.

The all-action back-row - who was one of five Chiefs players to lift the title last year - dotted down in the second half as Nick Walshe's side produced a sterling display in Auckland.

It took 20 minutes for the first try of the final, but when it came it was worth waiting for. England knocked on and South African captain Handre Pollard spotted a gap in the defence with a perfectly weighted chip. Jesse Kriel won the race to the ball and had an easy run to the line.

However, England responded with a long-range penalty attempt from Aaron Morris and hit the front for the first time on the stroke of half-time when Nathan Earle, an IRB Junior Player of the Year nominee, went over in the right corner to give his side an 11-10 lead at the break.

The two sides traded penalties in the 10 minute period after the break, before replacement Conlon dropped down on the ball after a strong drive from the England forwards to make it 21-13.

Pollard gathered his troops together under the posts and after weathering another period of England pressure it was the Junior Boks who hit back with some slick hands down the left wing, Duhan van der Merwe breaking a tackle to send Kriel over for his second try, which galvanised the South Africans and their bellowing support.

They came close to scoring another try within minutes after a break by the other Kriel twin on the park, Dan, but England's defence held firm.