Hook Has Dream Debut For Wales Under 21

ENGLAND UNDER 21 35
WALES UNDER 21 36
Wales made it four wins in a row over England in the Six Nations Under 21 Championship as they battled back to win with a penalty try at the death at Newbury.
Having pipped Ireland in Dublin with a last gapsp try, the Welsh did it again as they claimed their fourth try to allow Michael Hook to crown a wonderful debut with a simple conversion to give him a 14 point match haul.
Wales scord four tries and twice had to battle back from big deficits. England were 22-16 ahead at the break and were 35-24 infront in the second half.
There was drama from start to finish and even after Hook had converted the penalty try to give the visitors a one point lead, England could have grabbed the glory.
Bath outside half Olly Barkley, who had earlier kicked 15 points and scored one of his side’s four tries, had a penalty to win the game, but pushed his kick wide.
Wales; vital score came after they drove a line out to within five metres of the home line and then exerted huge pressrue at teh scrum.
The Irish referee sent England prop Michael Holford to the sin-bin for collapsing and when the next two scrums went down with Wales applying the pressure, he had no hesitation in awarding the penalty try.
“The copmmitment from all the players was unbelilevable. At oen stage it looked as though the game could have gone away from us big time and the players had to dig deep to hit back,” admitted Wales Under 21 coach Chris Davey.
“England were a very strong side and they held the upper hand up front. But we hung on, hit back and made it three wins out of our.
“It didn’t help us that Newport No 8 Andrew Powell went off with a suspected broken hand, but we are now on course for a tilt at the Triple Crown.”
Victory also means Wales will play in the new IRB World Under 21 Championship this summer.
England scored four tries through Chris Morgan, Tom Boyce, Ian Vass and Barkley, who also kicked 15 points.
Ebbw Vale back row man Rhys Williams grabbed a try in the first half before half backs Michael Phillips and Hook followed after the break.
Scorers: England: Tries: Chris Morgan, Tom Boyce, Ian Vass, Olly Barkley; Cons: Olly Barkley 3; Pens: Olly Barkley 3. Wales: Tries: Rhys Williams, Michael Phillips, Michael Hook, penalty try; Cons: Michael Hook 2; Pens: Michael Hook 4.