Six Nations: Wales U21 kick themselves to comfortable win

Wales U21 27 England U21 12

Swansea fly-half Gavin Henson steered Wales to a comfortable victory with 17 points from an impressive goal-kicking performance at Pontypridd today.

Henson booted five penalties and converted full-back Owain Ashman’s 52nd-minute try when England were a man short after wing Tom Boyce had been sin-binned.

Wales racked up 10 points during Boyce’s absence and England could find no way back after that, despite fly-half Charlie Hodgson slotting four penalties out of five.

Pontypridd number eight Michael Owen completed England’s misery through an injury-time kick and chase touchdown much to the delight of a 4,000-strong crowd.

Wales, 15-13 victors in the corresponding fixture last season, made a flying start as 19-year-old Henson landed two penalties inside the opening 10 minutes.

Henson and opposite number Hodgson exchanged kicks before England captain Mark Tucker scampered back to pull off a try-saving tackle on Wales centre Shaun James.

England struggled to hold a powerful Welsh pack, in which Bath flanker Andy Lloyd and Harlequins lock Adam Jones were towering influences, but errors out wide thwarted the home team’s try quest.

Ashman was guilty of throwing a wild pass at unmarked wing Richard Johnston and then Wales were forced into some frantic defence when Newport’s Hal Luscombe denied England wing Phil Christophers in the corner.

Hodgson’s second penalty on 42 minutes reduced the arrears, but both sides lacked sufficient pace to break well-organised blanket defences until Ashman pounced.

Boyce was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on and Henson immediately punished them by nonchalantly landing the 35-metre touchline penalty.

England continued to pay a hefty price for Boyce’s departure and were exposed defensively when centre Matthew Brayley raced through a gap, found James in support and Ashman did the rest.

Henson’s conversion gave Wales the points cushion they required and despite seeing substitute hooker Chris Thomas sin-binned late on, there was still time for Owen to round off a thoroughly comprehensive success.