England Community Lions Under-19s are through to the final of the European Championship following a 10-try success over a spirited Ukraine.
Ukraine troubled the scorers first after striking a fourth-minute penalty from Ihor Yefanov, but the Lions soon took charge thanks to tries from Kells’ Sam Murtagh after a great change of body position and skipper and Wath Brow half Devan Sharp.
Fifteen minutes into the contest, Miller Dalton’s pass unlocked the defence and Tom Farren charged in via a deflection from the uprights.
George Jamieson booted all three conversions and it was 18-2 to the Lions at the point of the first drinks break.
The second quarter got underway and within a couple of minutes, Sharp followed that first score with another, showing plenty of guile in addition to no little deception, selling a succession of dummies before shooting to the line.
Salford Rooster’s George Jamieson maintained his kicking record to open a 24-2 advantage before Yefanov struck a second penalty.
Ukraine continued to rally before Waterhead’s Marcus Geener slipped over on the left and Jamieson added his fifth goal to stretch the lead to 30-4 at half-time.
It was a dogged third quarter from Ukraine who showed plenty of commitment and endeavour to keep the Lions scoreless for nearly 20 minutes before Geener stepped inside a tired defence for his second. Four minutes later Siddal’s Henry Ogden went clear with Jamieson unable to convert for the first time in the game.
Quick feet from Blackbrook’s Josh Langley took him clear after Sharp’s pass and two further scores from Daniel Knott advanced the score with Jamieson’s goals completing the 58-4 win.
After the game, Sharp said: “The lads dug deep today. We completed our sets in some areas of the game, while in other areas it wasn’t so good, we did a few mistakes repetitively, which was error on error, which needs to be cut out for the final.
“I think there was a massive improvement from the game Sunday evening, but there is still much more to improve for the upcoming game which we’ll do over a video session and training session.
“We are all working for each other. We are a team, 1-20, and even though some did miss out on selection today, they are part of this squad and they have helped us get the victory.”
Commenting on the continued development of his halfback partnership with Salford City Roosters George Jamieson, Devan added: “The partnership was significantly improved today in comparison to Sunday’s game.
“We were working from different points, we were working from a wider edge playing twos and we were running on speed and punching the lines which is where we got our points from today down the edges and a massive credit to the middles for getting us yards, getting us on the front foot and getting us them wins to allow the halfbacks and backs to play and go up there.”
Team:Â Sam Murtagh, Jacob Haigh, Marcus Geener, Henry Ogden, Daniel Knott; George Jamieson, Devan Sharp; Miller Dalton, Scott Simmons, Tom Farren, Keane Elms, Ben Metcalfe, Joe Lewis
Subs: Alfie Hough, Jack Lawler, Fletcher Holgate, Josh Langley
18th man 24 Harry Barker
Tries: Murtagh (7), Sharp (12, 24), Farren (15), Geener (38, 58), Ogden (62), Langley (67), Knott (70, 74).
Goals: Jamieson 9/10.
Ukraine: Ryan Jurkans, Vadym Dotsiak, Maksym Resmetukha, Andrii Mordovanets, Mykhailo Novosad, Ihor Yefanov, Aziz Stepaneko, Maksim Harmash, Ivan Mazur, Bomdan Mazur, Arsen Havdo, Kostiantyn Tiurin, Phoenix Death
Subs: Andriy Hladkyi, Nazar Shmalko, Kyrylo Volkov, Ryslan Lipisii.
Goals: Yefanov 2/2.
