Chiefs trio help U20s to see off Scotland

By Mark Stevens
16/3/19

Exeter Chiefs trio Rus Trima, Alfie Petch and Richard Capstick helped England Under-20s wrap up this Six Nations campaign witha 45-7 bonus-point victory over Scotland at Northampton's Franklin's Gardens.

Tuima started the game at No.8, while prop Petch and back-row forward Capstick were both introduced off the bench as England notched up their third victory in the tournament, ensuring Steve Bates’ side finished in third place behind champions Ireland and France.

Despite Scotland taking an early lead via Cameron Anderson’s converted try, England led 12-7 at the break with tries from Tom de Glanville and Tom Willis. After the break and England roared into life, scoring five more tries to seal a comfortable victory.

Scotland had the first points of the game with Anderson intercepting a loose pass to run a try in unchallenged from 60m out which Ross Thompson converted.

De Glanville crossed after slicing through Scotland's defence with a superb arching run.

Manu Vunipola missed the chance to kick England ahead midway through the half but just before the break his penalty kicked to the corner was eventually driven over off the back of a maul by captain Willis.

After the break, Aaron Hinkley dived over in the corner for a third England try after breaking Scotland line on 22m and powering through with Vunipola's conversion taking the score to 19-7.

Cameron Redpath finished off Ollie Lawrence's break through midfield to seal the bonus point which Vunipola converted and Alfie Petch bundled over for a fifth try with 10 minutes remaining.

Alfie Barbeary latched on to a Redpath off-load to crash over and in the last minute, Arron Reed intercepted near his own line and ran the length of the field to score.

"We’re making good progress but are certainly not the finished article by any stretch, but we were much more creative, kept the ball for longer and looked more dangerous," said head coach Steve Bates.

"We created plenty of opportunities and what we’ve got to do now is look after the ball a bit better. We shouldn't get carried away with the scoreline, because we certainly haven’t cracked it. Until 20 minutes to go it was a still a close game and with the possession we had and the pressure we put Scotland under the points tally should have been greater."

England U20s v Scotland

15. Tom de Glanville (Bath Rugby), 14. Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish), 13. Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors), 12. Cameron Redpath (Sale Sharks), 11. Arron Reed (Sale Sharks), 10. Manu Vunipola (Saracens), 9. Ollie Fox (Yorkshire Carnegie), 1. Kai Owen (Worcester Warriors), 2. Samson Ma'asi (Northampton Saints), 3. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), 4. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), 5. James Scott (Worcester Warriors), 6. Tom Willis (Wasps), 7. Aaron Hinkley (Gloucester Rugby), 8. Rusiate Tuima (Exeter Chiefs)

Replacements:

16. Alfie Barbeary (Wasps), 17. Olly Adkins (Gloucester Rugby), 18. Alfie Petch (Exeter Chiefs), 19. Jon Kpoku (Saracens), 20. Richard Capstick (Exeter Chiefs), 21. Gus Warr (Sale Sharks), 22. Kieran Wilkinson (Sale Sharks), 23. Josh Hodge (Newcastle Falcons)