England Universities defeat Wales in Student RL Four Nations

England Universities head the table going into the final round of competition as they demolished Wales 42-0 at the University of Nottingham in Round 2 of the Student Four Nations.

It took just six minutes before Jamie O’Keeffe scooted into space and grounded the ball to the left of the posts, giving Oli Winterbottom an easy conversion.

Soon after, Leon Stewart found space on a right to left move and found the gap to move England further ahead, but this time Winterbottom couldn’t add the extras.

Ben Bell-Thorn completed a cross-field move, diving into the corner, with Winterbottom adding a towering touchline conversion to push England further ahead.

Will Lintin was held up twice in the same set by a defiant Welsh defence, but it soon crumbled as Winterbottom grabbed a try of is own as he stepped and stretched out on the right edge, although he was unable to add the conversion. 

Bell-Thorn added his second just before the break, taking Winterbottom’s pass superbly on the wing, but again the try went unconverted as the half time whistle sounded.

Bell-Thorn almost completed his hat-trick after the break, but the pass went sailing over his head as England dominated the early sets of the second half.

Ben O’Donnell cleaned up an untidy pass and bagged himself four points as he managed to cut through to the left of the posts but Winterbottom was unable to improve.

As the game entered is final stages, Teddy Davidson stretched out to give England a further four points. Dan Perry took over kicking duties but was unable to find his target.

An outrageous dummy from Charlie Yeomans to scythe through the middle with seven minutes remaining saw England romping away, with Perry adding the extras.

England finished with a flurry, Stewart intercepting a wayward pass to burn forty metres down-field, a scramble by Isaac Coleman found O’Donnell and fast hands from Yeomans put Perry away in the corner. Perry was unable to convert as the final whistle sounded.

In the earlier game, Scotland dispatched Ireland 38-22, with the final round of fixtures taking place on Saturday 5th July at the University of Nottingham.

England:

Ollie Winterbottom, Ben Bell-Thorn, Dan Perry, Leon Stewart, Deusjes Nzage, Elliot Martin, Charlie Yeomans, James Leach, Jamie O’Keeffe, Freddie Smith, Teddy Davidson, Isaac Coleman, Mackauley Stephenson.

Interchanges: Will Lintin, Ben O’Donnell, Danny Salkeld, Harry Lowery, Alex Ringshall.

Tries: Jamie O’Keeffe (6), Leon Stewart (10), Ben Bell-Thorn (21,38), Oli Winterbottom (33), Ben O’Donnell (50), Teddy Davidson (68), Charlie Yeomans (73), Dan Perry (77)

Goals: Ollie Winterbottom 2/6, Dan Perry 1/3

Wales

Lewis Ingram, Lewis Howells, Eli Weekes, Alex Naylor, Leo Jones, Llew Hawkes, Tom Moore, Conor Thomas, George Groves, Alex Green, Fin Northrop, Archie Whillock, Mason Phillips.

Interchanges: Conor Madden, Scott Simons, Iwan Stacey, Mason Apsee, Evan Moore, Nat Cotton, Charlie Penton.

Half Time: 24-0

Full Time: 42-0

Referee: Ollie Salmon