Australian Schools win Test against England

The Australian Schoolboys have fought off a second half comeback by England U19s to win the first Test on their UK tour by 24-12.

The match was played in extremely wet conditions on a boggy pitch, described by locals as “the worst playing conditions in years”. By the end of the match it was almost impossible to distinguish between the two mud-soaked teams.

Despite the conditions, both teams displayed exceptional skills to put on an entertaining game of Rugby, with Australian coach Pat Langtry saying “it was the best game of wet-weather football I have ever seen”.

Australia opened the scoring in the first half when centre Rowan Kellam crossed for a try, with the conversion and a penalty goal to scrumhalf Nathan Seivert putting Australia up by 10 points.

On the stroke of half time, England were on the attack near the Australian line, but a turnover saw winger Lachlan Turner sprint away for a 90 metre try, giving Australia a handy 17-0 lead at the break.

The second half saw the big English side come roaring back into the game. When Australian winger Andrew Barrett was yellow carded for repeated infringement at the breakdown, it allowed the home team to run in two tries and close the gap to 17-12.

However Australia kept their composure and with five minutes to go flyhalf Kurtley Beale broke the English line to score, sealing the match at 24-12.

The key to Australia’s victory was their solid defence with the centre pairing of Brett Gillespie and Rowan Kellam tackling solidly. In the forward pack, blindside flanker Jack Lam was crunching in defence while his openside partner David Pocock was destructive with the ball in hand.

“It was outstanding game despite the conditions,” Langtry said.

“Our commitment to our game plan and to each other was at the level it needed to be.

“We were outmuscled in every position on the paddock in term of physicality - England were an enormous side - but our defence was just brutal and the only time they were able to cross our line was when we were a man down.

“Jack Lam was outstanding in defence as was Rowan Kellam in the midfield, and Kurtley Beale had a great attacking game.

“Both scrumhalves, Nathan Sievert and Thomas Tusitala, were also outstanding given the heavy conditions.”

Australia’s next match is on Tuesday against the Welsh Regional team.

AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS 24 (Rowan Kellam, Lachlan Turner, Kurtley Beale tries, Nathan Sievert pen, 2 cons, Quade Cooper con) defeated ENGLAND UNDER 19S 12 (Oliver Dodge 2 tries, Daniel Cipriani con). Half Time 17-0 Australia

Australian Schools

1. Daniel Roach

2. James Hanson

3. Ben Daley

4. Josh Afu

5. Daniel Linde

6. Jack Lam

7. David Pocock

8. Patrick McCutcheon (c)

9. Nathan Sievert

10. Kurtley Beale

11. Lachlan Turner

12. Brett Gillespie

13. Rowan Kellam

14. Andrew Barrett

15. Quade Cooper

Reserves:

16. Jonathan Salvi

17. Joseph Egan

18. Gavin Warren

19. Sam Wykes

20. Ben McCalman

21. Thomas Tusitala

22. Brando Vaaulu

23. Peter Betham

England U19s

Tom Arscott (Plymouth Albion), Jordan Turner Hall (NEC Harlequins), Dominic Waldouck (London Wasps & Lattymer Upper), Tom Youngs C (Leicester Tigers), Oliver Dodge (Leicester Tigers), Daniel Cipriani (London Wasps & Whitgift), Joe Simpson (London Wasps & St Benedict's), Jack Forster (Gloucester & Hartpury), Jordan Page (Leeds Tykes), Tom Mercey (Saracens), David Attwood (Bristol & Bristol Uni), Simon Pitfield (Northampton Saints & Loughborough), Chevvy Pennycook (Bristol), Andy Saull (Saracens & Bancrofts), Hugo Ellis (London Wasps & St Benedict's)

Replacements: Mattthew Deacon (Worcester Warriors & Hartpury), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Charles Beech (Northampton Saints), Alex Shaw (Leicester Tigers), Danny Pointon (Gloucester & St Peter's 6th Form), Adam Greendale (Leeds Tykes & Hymers), George Hughes (Bath Rugby & Bath Uni)

Fixtures

Team management