England moved to the brink of securing the 2021 Six Nations Under-20s title following a convincing 45-3 win over Wales at Cardiff Arms Park.
Sam Costelow’s second-minute penalty got Wales off to an ideal start but the leaders hit back instantly and first-half tries from Jack Clement, Sam Riley and Jack van Poortvliet opened up a 19-3 half-time lead.
Braces from Arthur Relton and Nahum Merigan added gloss to the scoreline after the break as England completed their fourth bonus-point win in as many matches.
It means they only need to avoid defeat against Italy in their final match – or pick up a bonus point of any kind – to become champions for the first time since 2017.
ENGLAND RESPOND AFTER WALES STRIKE FIRST
The intensity of clashes between Wales and England never disappoints and this one had its first incident within seconds of kick-off as the visitors were penalised for not releasing in the tackle.
Costelow stepped up to give Wales the lead from the tee but the early bump in the road appeared to jolt England into action.
Having been awarded a kickable penalty of their own, Fin Smith opted to go to the corner and the decision paid dividends when Jack Clement powered over for a score Smith converted to put England in front.
Both sides threatened but England gained the crucial next score in near-identical fashion to their opener.
The forwards again gained unstoppable momentum from a rolling maul and this time it was Riley who finished the job, the hooker continuing his run of scoring in every match of this year’s Championship.
If England’s first two tries had relied on brute force, the third owed everything to quick thinking.
Captain Jack van Poortvliet was responsible for it, making the most of the chance to tap and go from a penalty just inside the Welsh 22 and jinking past a series of tacklers to go in under the posts and hand Smith a simple conversion.
Riley came close to doubling his tally three minutes before the break only to be held up over the line and the closing stages of the half saw both sides reduced to 14 men, with Harvey Kindall-Beaton and Efan Daniel each shown yellow cards.
RELTON DOUBLE SEALS THE DEAL
England started the second half looking like a side keen to wrap up their bonus point and they did just that in the 50th minute.
It started with a kick to the corner but this time the lineout malfunctioned, evading the pack only to sit up kindly for onrushing centre Dan Lancaster.
When the ball was then spun wide, Arthur Relton was on hand to dot down in the left-hand corner and replacement Tommy Matthews nailed a tricky touchline conversion.
Relton was at it again just three minutes later, adding another poacher’s effort to his tally from close range after more good work by the Red Rose backline.
It was a similar story on 68 minutes when Cameron Jones intercepted a pass and fed Ioan Evans but having been tackled inside the English 22, the centre was penalised for holding on and the Red Rose cleared their lines.
England were in no mood to pass up their scoring opportunities and No.8 Nahum Merigan crashed over for two late tries to round off another solid week’s work for Alan Dickens’ men.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
England’s pack were dominant throughout and Fin Baxter was at the heart of their efforts.
The prop played a key role in the rolling mauls which laid the foundations for his side’s victory and scrummaged efficiently.
