England secured a thrilling win at the death over Wales on Day 1 of the Men’s U18 Six Nations Festival.
They triumphed with the final kick of the game while France continued their unbeaten run at the Men’s Festival with victory over Ireland.
Hosts Italy came from behind to beat newcomers Portugal while fellow debutants Georgia fell to a spirited defeat to Scotland.
GEORGIA 14-22 SCOTLAND
Scotland prevailed in a topsy-turvy meeting with Georgia, who were making their debut in the Festival, winning 22-14.
Georgia showed no sign of nerves, impressing in the opening exchanges, but it was Joe Roberts who opened the scoring for Scotland, dotting down from a rolling maul.
The Scotland forwards and backs then combined to set up Nairn Moncrieff, who dived over with Ross Wolfden’s fine kicking moving Scotland 12 points ahead.
Archil Nozadze made history with Georgia’s first score in the dying seconds of the first half before David Archivadze moved Georgia ahead as Scotland were reduced to 14.
Scotland had the final say in a nervy encounter winning with the pick of the tries as Sam Leweni hoovered up a kick from the outside of Henry Armstrong’s boot to dot down in the corner.
ITALY 30 – 14 PORTUGAL
Italy shut out an impressive Portugal in the second half to win 30-14 and get their campaign as hosts off to a successful start.
Portugal opened the scoring in their first appearance in the Festival as Bernardo Valente chased down a kick to dot down to give the visitors the lead.
Italy fought back as the maul forced its way over with Herny Bruno Bonetti scoring but Portugal extended their lead as Martim Dias raced in.
It was all Italy after the break as Matteo Giorgio Noventa slid over before Malik Faisal turned on the pace to score twice either side of Bonetti’s second try.
Inza Dene added Italy’s sixth as the hosts benefitted from a tiring Portugal side, with Dene running down the wing to score.
FRANCE 50 – 7 IRELAND
France continued their winning ways in the men’s Festival after going undefeated in the 2023 Championships with a 50-7 win over Ireland.
The opening exchanges were even with Ruben Pargade and Malvyn Rates putting Les Bleuets ahead before Jamie Conway hit back as he found a gap in the French defence.
Rates selflessly offloaded to Marceau Marzullo for France’s third but was soon rewarded with a second try of the match.
His was the first of three braces as Marzullo scored soon after the restart before Charly Mignot darted his way to back-to-back scores.
Their dominant performance was rounded out by Dylan Cazemajou as he was found out wide for France’s eighth and final score.
ENGLAND 36-35 WALES
England and Wales played out a blockbuster final game with England taking the victory in the dying moments.
Patrick Hogg kicked off England’s campaign as he crashed under the posts before Jonny Vyman doubled their lead.
Wales soon responded first through Carwyn Jones before a penalty try was awarded as Hogg was sent to the sin-bin for bringing down the maul just before the try line.
Despite the man disadvantage, England scored through captain Connor Treacey, but Wales took a two-point lead into the break with Tom Bowen crossing having been fed the ball from the line-out.
Wales extended their advantage through Stef Emmanuel before a fine intercept try from George Pearson on the wing cut the gap to just two.
James Linegar kicked England into the narrowest of leads before Bowen hit back again but Linegar’s boot would prove decisive.
George Knowles got England within a point of Wales before Linegar nailed his conversion with the clock in the red to secure a dramatic win.
