Debut try for Bassett in England romp

BEDFORD Blues winger Josh Bassett touched down a debut try as England U20s made it two wins from two in this season’s U20 Six Nations, beating Wales 40-9 in front over 3,400 fans at the Twickenham Stoop on Friday night.

It was a game for new faces as first time starters Anthony Watson (2), Sam Hill and Basset all scored tries, while Tommy Bell kicked eight points. Luke Cowan-Dickie and Marland Yarde touched down for England’s other tries.

Despite the 31-point win, it was Wales who got on the board first as Welsh fly-half Sam Davies scored an 18th-minute drop-goal, just after he saw a penalty sail wide, but it was England who got the first try of the match.

Bedford Blues wing Bassett, a former Arnold Middle and Harlington Upper School student and ex-Ampthill player, was on the end of scrum-half Dan Robson’s precise pass to touch down after several phases of strong forward play, with Leeds fly-half Bell adding the extras.

England’s second try came 10 minutes before the break. A strong scrum just outside the 22 freed up the backs and impressive Quins centre Charlie Walker showed good pace to tee up London Irish wing Watson for his first try, five days after he scored for England U18s against France.

Davies then kicked two penalties for Wales, either side of one from Bell, to put the visitors to within a converted try of the hosts at the break.

The second half started much like the firstas both sides showed plenty of guts without really penetrating the opposing 22.

With half an hour to go, England full-back and dual-registered Bedford Blues and Saracens star, Ben Ransom, playing in his 12th consecutive U20 game, kicked his side into life.

A long punt up field from the number 15 put real pressure on the Welsh defence and Exeter prop Cowan-Dickie eventually popped the ball over after several strong phases of play from the English pack.

It was another Exeter player who got England’s fourth try, Anthony Watson and Tommy Bell combined well before the latter passed to Sam Hill to score and move the lead to 21 points.

Watson got his second and England’s fifth with 10 minutes remaining. Smooth passing across the backline set up the 17-year-old to score his third U20 try in two matches.

Marland Yarde rounded off the scoring with his fourth try of this season’s Six Nations after good pace from Ransom set the London Irish wing up to touch down.

Speaking after the match, man of the match Charlie Walker said: “It was great to get the win in front of such a supportive home crowd. The first half was a bit stop-start, but in the second half I felt that we really moved up the gears and played some good rugby.

“This was the first time a lot of the guys have played for the 20s and it was refreshing to see how well everyone played – to a man I thought everyone did their job excellently. We’ll take a lot from this win, but we know that there’s still a lot to work on, and we’ll look to be even better when we play Italy in Rovigo next Saturday.”

England U20: 1 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), 2 Koree Britton (Gloucester Rugby), 3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), 4 Tom Price (Leicester Tigers), 5 George Merrick (Harlequins), 6 Dom Barrow (Leeds Carnegie), 7 Chris Walker (C) (Leeds Carnuegie), 8 Jack Clifford (Harlequins), 9, Dan Robson (Gloucester Rugby), 10, Tommy Bell (Sale Sharks), 11, Josh Bassett (Bedford Blues), 12, Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs), 13, Charlie Walker (Harlequins), 14, Anthony Watson (London Irish), 15, Ben Ransom (Saracens). Replacements: 16, Scott Spurling (Saracens) on for Koree Britton 65 mins; 17, Alec Hepburn (London Wasps) on for Luke Cowan-Dickie 65 mins; 18, Nick Auterac (Saracens) on for Kyle Sinckler 70 mins; 19, Elliot Stooke (Gloucester Rugby) on for George Merrick 63 mins; 20, Will Skuse (Bath Rugby) on for Tom Price 45 mins; 21, Alex Day (Northampton Saints) on for Dan Robson 70 mins; 22, Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) on for Tommy Bell 70 mins; 23, Marland Yarde (London Irish) on for Josh Bassett 50 mins. T: Bassett, Watson 2, Cowan-Dickie, Hill, Yarde. C: Bell. P: Bell 2.