Relton double edges England towards Under-20s title

By Mark Stevens
8/7/21

England Under-20s are on the verge of their first Six Nations Championship title since 2017 following their 45-3 win over Wales Under-20s at Cardiff Arms Park.

It was Wales - who included Exeter Chiefs trio Oli Burrows, Christ Tshiunza and Dan John in their ranks - who got the first points of the match after just two minutes when Sam Costelow knocked over a penalty to give the hosts the lead.

However, that would be their only reward on a night when England ruled the roost to claim their fourth successive bonus point victory, thanks in the main to a try double from Chiefs winger Arthur Relton.

Indeed, the visitors responded just two minutes later though when No.8 Jack Clement went over from a powerful short range drive, with fly-half Fin Smith adding the conversion.

A driving maul resulted in England’s second try and it was hooker Sam Riley who crossed off the back of his line-out throw.

England’s third came from a superb break and finish from captain Jack van Poortvliet when he took a quick tap penalty just outside the 22 and he beat three defenders to cross – Smith added the extras for a 19-3 lead at the break, which saw England’s Harvey Kindell-Beaton sent to the sin bin just before half-time.

The bonus-point score came on the 50th minute mark when a slick handling move was worked out to the left wing and Relton finished easily, with replacement Tommy Mathews adding the conversion.

Relton’s second came down a blindside break just a few minutes later and England finished their scoring when Nahum Merigan went over twice in the closing stages with powerful scores, and Mathews added the extras for both as Alan Dickens’ side prevented Wales from scoring in the second half.

England's final game is against an Italian side who have won one of their four games so far which takes place on Tuesday, July 13 (KO 2pm)