Early tries from hooker Harry Thacker and centre Javiah Pohe secured England Under-18’s the Justin Bridou trophy following their 25-13 defeat of Ireland in the FIRA/AER European Championship final in Madrid.
John Fletcher’s side built an early 12-0 lead and it would be an advantage they would not relinquish against the defending champions.
Prop Scott Wilson’s try after the break all but secured the triumph with Cian Kelleher’s late try for the Irish proving in vain.
England were ahead after just two minutes when they worked the space for Leicester Tigers’ Thacker to burst through a gap and touch down. Fly-half Billy Burns converted.
After Conor McKeon was off target with a penalty for the Irish, England built on their lead as Pohe showed quick feet to slice through the Irish defence.
Burns failed to add the conversion and a brace of penalties from McKeon meant Ireland only trailed by six at the interval.
However a Burns penalty took England a score clear before even more daylight was created when Wilson was forced over following a driving maul to make it 22-6.
Brief hopes of a comeback were raised when Irish replacement Kelleher scored a brilliant solo try but Sam Olver, a replacement for Burns, had the final word with a penalty.
