England Vs Wales
England Deaf beat Wales 14-11 at Newbury, England
The England Deaf Rugby team, sponsored in their Four Nations campaign by American Express and Terex, kicked off their home tie against World Champions Wales at Newbury RFC in a match supported by Monitor Risk Management Ltd.
This was the proverbial game of two halves with a confident first half Welsh performance faltering when England finally settled to play with greater fluidity and reliability to gain a fine win.
The Wales start showed an experienced, well-organised team with feisty forwards providing good opportunities for attacking backs. England conceded an early penalty for encroaching and Withey converted a simple opportunity in front of the posts. Wales continued this early pressure as England's nerves produced handling errors and a tendency to kick away hard won possession.
A foray into Welsh territory led to a penalty for full back Gavin Jackson, but at 3-3 it was still Wales dominating much of the play and with their large second row stealing England lineout ball stout defence was called for from the England pack. Captain Richard Jackson, leading by example from No 8, was well supported by hooker Sawyer and flanker Gilbert made a try stopping tackle on the Welsh winger at the corner flag, following England's loss of possession in midfield.
Wales created a huge overlap for their backs and crisp handling produced a try by Nigel Francis in the corner, giving them a 3 - 8 lead, soon to become 3 - 11 with a further penalty.
Motivated by Head Coach Geoff Atkinson's pep talk, and a few tactical switches that saw Jackson moving to second row to replace Bloxham and Gilbert now at No 8, England took to the field with fresh determination. Other substitutions followed and these fresh players helped to win turnover ball. Sawyer had some charging runs supported by Piesley, whilst Gilbert and scrum half Everett combined well to take England into Welsh territory. This new confidence saw Wales concede a further penalty bringing the score to 6-11.
Wales were now making mistakes and referee O'hara yellow carded Joe Jones for handling the ball in a ruck with England in front of the posts. Gavin Jackson again obliged with the penalty kick to take the score to England 9 Wales 11.
From an England lineout on the Welsh 10 metre line the forwards drove The maul before Everett released it through the swift hands of Borradaile and Doyle moved it quickly down the back line where Gilbert popped up to create an overlap. The loose forward then sucked in both Welsh centre and wing before releasing flying winger Warner to score by the flag for England's first international try. Jackson's conversion attempt came off the post but England were leading 14-11 with less than 10 minutes to go.
Forwards Taylor, Millard and Pothecary fought it out up front to secure possession from a Welsh side determined not to lose. With Wales seizing every opportunity, this pressure led to an England sin binning as Gilbert played the ball from an offside position to deny Wales possession. In all the Welsh team were awarded three penalty attempts but on each occasion, kicking into a tricky wind , Francis failed to find the target and equalise the scores.
England's first ever Four Nations win was applauded by a crowd of some 700. Craig Crowley, Chairman of UK Deaf Sports, awarded the Man of the Matchrophy to England's Mathew Gilbert, Duke of York's Royal Military School and Dover RFC.
Officials: Referee: Glen O'hara, Touch Judges: S. Bourne & R Potter.
Squads:
England DRU: R Jackson (Capt), R Hill, T Sawyer, L Taylor, A Millership, C Pothecary, B Pruce, N Todd, S Bloxham, J Hart, D Piesley, G Phinney D Millard, Piet Everett, N Zanger, T Borradaile, N Doyle, M. Gilbert, A Dalziel, B Warner, S Ledgard, G Jackson.
Wales DRU: C Davies, N Billingham, A Lloyd, A Rees, T Hughes, L Blackburn, J Jones, J Evans (Capt), I Jones, M Withey, Abbott, B Pritchard, R Hardy, M Watkins, C Ratcliffe, S Burnett, R Watkins, A Lewis, C Haddock, T Parkinson, P Galtry.
