WALES 44 USA 12
IAN GOLDEN, The Wern, Merthyr Tydfil, Saturday
WALES prepared well for the Celtic Cup with a healthy win against a physical, hard-hitting USA side.
The first half was fairly close, but in the end the sixth youngest Welsh men’s starting side on record showed they had the skill and fitness and entertained the crowd throughout with their victory.
The Welsh took an early lead after Charlie Newton kicked a first minute 40/20. From the resulting set, Will Jones scored in the corner for a try on his international debut, although Matty Fozard couldn’t land the kick.
But the visitors soon had the advantage. Tevita Bryce scored just to the right of the sticks and Esteban Tupuola easily landed the conversion.
Wales regained the lead on 13 minutes. From a quick tap penalty, New Zealand-born Brisbane Broncos prospect Tokoaitua Owen sliced open the defence and dived over, and he also had a try on his debut. Newton successfully took over kicking duties.
A Welsh error nearly cost them a try. Tyler Dupree, the ex-England prop making his USA debut, picked up a loose ball and made a strong run, which was powerful but not that fast, and he was eventually stopped in his tracks by Sam Dickenson.
USA were stacking up the penalties and fom the fourth that they gave away, Wales attacked well and the ball was sent out to Jones, who dived over for his second of the game. Newton missed the kick.
But the visitors hit back again. Tupuola was held up over the line and from the next play, former NRL star turned professional wrestler Daniel Vidot outjumped Jones to catch the ball, twist and ground. Tupuola converted.
Now just two points up, Wales needed to score the next try, and they did just that as Owen Restall scored in the corner on 34 minutes.
Again Newton missed the kick so, despite leading USA four tries to two, the margin was just six points, but it wouldn’t matter as they went back-to-back.
From the first set after kick-off, a very good passing move split the American defence, culminating with Jones securing his hat-trick try. Newton’s kick was good, but this time it just went under the bar and Wales led 22-12 at the break.
USA weren’t giving up but it was their strength keeping them in the game. In an early second-half Welsh attack, Oliver Garmston looked like he’d been hit by a truck in a tackle that could win a hit-of-the-season award in any league and which had the crowd crying out in unison, but it was in fact Tupuola, who was playing well to keep his side in the game.
After keeping out an attack which fizzled out on the final tackle, Wales went upfield with a length-of-the-pitch set, which ended in a good break from Owen, who fed the ball to Max Clarke and in turn palmed off to Sam Dickenson who scored under the posts. Newton converted to put the score up to 28-12.
And as Wales won their ninth penalty of the match, they scored their seventh try. Newcastle Knights reserve Taine Woodford, another Wales player winning his first cap and like Owen qualifying through a grandparent, scored under the sticks with Newton adding the goal to well and truly cement the victory, with still a quarter of the match remaining.
The eighth try came with on 71 minutes. Owen created the try with a good long pass out wide to Max Clarke who ran through a gap and score, though Newton couldn’t convert.
Wales’ two most experienced players teamed up for the final try four minutes from time. Anthony Walker created it, powering his way near to the line before offloading to Matty Fozard who twisted his way over, with Newton converting.
GAMESTAR: Debutant Tokoaitua Owen showed his NRL-coached skills throughout the match, scored a good try and created others.
GAMEBREAKER: Taine Woodford’s try on 61 minutes put the score on to 34-12 and there was no return for USA.
MATCHFACTS
WALES
1 Sam Dickenson
2 Owen Restall
3 Oliver Garmston
4 Max Clarke
5 Will Jones
20 Charlie Newton
7 Tokoaitua Owen
8 Charlie Glover
9 Matty Fozard
10 Sam Bowring
11 Connor Davies
12 Sam Grice
13 Finley Yates
Subs (all used)
14 Curtis Davies
15 Ed Williams
17 Taine Woodford
25 Anthony Walker
Tries: Jones (3, 22, 39), Owen (13), Restall (34), Dickenson (54), Woodford (61), Clarke (71), Fozard (76)
Goals: Fozard 0/1, Newton 4/8
USA
1 Shingirai Hlanguyo
2 Esteban Tupuola
3 Jason Martin
4 Taylor Jordan
5 Bureta Faraimo
6 Ethan Povey
7 Ryan Bannerot
20 Joe Eichner
9 Isaac Misky
10 Tevita Bryce
11 Daniel Vidot
22 George Hill
13 Tyler Dupree
Subs (all used)
14 Kyle McCollum
15 Matt Finnesy
16 Anson Jiang
17 Wes Piggins
Tries: Bryce (9), Vidot (29)
Goals: Tupuola 2/2
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Wales: Tokoaitua Owen, USA: Esteban Tupuola
SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 4-6, 10-6, 14-6, 14-12, 18-12, 22-12; 28-12, 34-12, 38-12, 44-12
Penalty count: 11-2
Half-time: 22-12
Referee: Kristoff Young
Attendance: 1,050
Image: Kate Pronger
