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Wells brace helps England U20s to Six Nations title

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Harry Wells scored two tries as England Under-20s were crowned Six Nations champions for a third time in a row with a 28-15 victory over Wales Under-20s at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay on Friday night.

Leicester Tigers forward Wells scored a try in each half for England, and there was also a score for Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs).

The tie was on knife edge for large parts of the game and Wales fly half Sam Davies was a constant threat with the boot, kicking all the hosts’ points with five penalties.

But fly-half Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) kicked 13 points to add to the tries for flanker Wells and wing Nowell as England secured their win.

Head coach Rob Hunter said: “It’s a massive achievement and the guys deserve all the credit. They’re a hard working group and this trophy is their reward for the work that they have put in. Wales gave it a real go and full credit to them, we never felt comfortable.”

There was a late call-up to the matchday squad for Tigers wing Henry Purdy. Sale Sharks centre Mark Jennings failed a late fitness test and was replaced by Tom Stephenson (Northampton Saints), with Purdy coming onto the bench.

Davies landed a penalty for the first points of the game to put the hosts 3-0 up. But England hit back and a break from scrum-half Callum Braley (Bristol Rugby) freed LV= Breakthrough Player of the Year Nowell to score in the corner.

Wales regained the lead after 17 minutes through Davies’ second penalty. Davies then slotted his third successful kick of the night with 25 minutes gone to make it 9-5.

Slade brought England to within a point with a penalty from just inside his own half. And as the half drew to a close England opted for touch instead of posts, a decision justified as back row Wells touched down for his first England try, converted by Slade. Wales were also reduced to 14 men with No. 8 Ieuan Jones sent to the sin-bin for repeat offenses.

Davies and Slade exchanged penalties in the third quarter to leave England 18-12 ahead after 54 minutes.

A Slade drop goal increased the gap to nine points but Davies returned fire with his fifth penalty of the night to make it 21-15.

Wales pushed on knowing a converted try would win them the Championship, but it was England who had the final say. Slade again opting for touch with points on offer, and a strong driving maul was touched down by Wells for his second try to give England the 28-15 win.

England Under 20
15 Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby)
14 Anthony Watson (London Irish)
13 Tom Stephenson (Northampton Saints)
12 Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
11 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
10 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
9 Callum Braley (Bristol Rugby)
1 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
2 Nathan Morris (London Wasps)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
4 Elliott Stooke (Gloucester Rugby)
5 Dominic Barrow (Leeds Carnegie)
6 Harry Wells (Leicester Tigers)
7 David Sisi (London Irish)
8 Jack Clifford (Harlequins)

Replacements
16 Max Crumpton (Saracens)
17 Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints) on for Luke Cowan-Dickie 67 mins
18 Danny Herriott (Northampton Saints)
19 Tom Jubb (Saracens)
20 Gus Jones (London Wasps)
21 Alex Day (Northampton Saints)
22 Henry Purdy (Leicester Tigers)
23 Ben Howard (Worcester Warriors) on for Ollie Devoto 73 mins