As bravely as the Welsh boys tried they could match neither the physicality nor the pace of their English counterparts.
They were hit by four tries in the first quarter of the game – three from big Saracens wing George Perkins – and never recovered from the shock of going 28-0 down.
To their credit they rallied with a first half try from skipper and flanker Tom Phillips (Scarlets) and also got a consolation second half try from another Scarlet in fly half Dan Jones but knew full well they were totally second best during the 70 minutes.
Both England and Wales travel to play in the European Championships in Poland in mid April and Wales will have to improve by leaps and bounds if they are to have a realistic chance of getting to the latter stages.
Coach Allan Lewis was in phlegmatic mood after the defeat.
“This was a harsh reminder to the squad of the level of intensity they must aspire to,” he said.
“By the time we woke up the game had gone but we can take comfort in a notable improvement in the second half and we will build on that out in Poland.”
Harlequins No 8 Henry Cheeseman got the other English try in the first half to help establish a 28-5 lead but better commitment from Wales confined the visitors to just two second half tries from Bath centre Max Clark and Bristol wing Lucas Slowik.
There were good individual Welsh performances from elusive Dragons wing Lloyd Lewis, nuggety hooker Liam Belcher and hard working Ospreys lock Matthew Dodd but Wales could not match the speed and fluency of England who go into the European Championships as clear favourites to retain their title.
Lewis added, “Our performance was wide of the mark from the off, but it is only through playing top opposition such as England that you improve. We have the squad together as a group for the FIRA Championships at Easter, and then hopefully again for the tour to South Africa and as we have seen over the last couple of years, we will look to make strides during those periods.”
Wales
Try: T Phillips, D Jones
Con: L Price
England
Tries: G Perkins (3), H Cheeseman, M Clark. L Slowik
Cons: L Evans (5)
Pen: L Evans
WALES U18:
Morgan Williams (RGC/ Coleg Llandrillo / Caernarfon); Rhys Gealy (Ospreys / YG Gwyr / Pontarddulais), James Whittingham (Blues / Cowbridge), Owen Watkin (Ospreys / Bridgend College / Bryncethin), Lloyd Lewis (Dragons / Ysgol Gwynllyw); Daniel Jones (Scarlets / Coleg Sir Gar / Carmarthen Quins), Michael Hale (Blues / Glantaf / St Josephs); Keagan Bale (Dragons/ Coleg Gwent / Caerleon), Liam Belcher (Blues/ Coleg y Cymoedd / Pontypridd), Leon Brown (Dragons/ Newport High), Joe Davies (Dragons/ Newport High/ Bedwas), Matthew Dodd (Ospreys / Olchfa / Dunvant), Tom Phillips (capt,Scarlets / Coleg Sir Gar / Llangennech) Jordan Viggers (Blues/ St David’s/ St Peter’s), Jon Fox (Ospreys/ Gower College / Swansea)
Replacements:
Luke Price (Ospreys/ Maesydderwen/ Swansea) for James Whittingham 48
Kieran Hardy (Scarlets / Coleg Sir Gar / Pontyberem) for Michael Hale, 55
Harrison Walsh (Ospreys / Bishopgore / Mumbles) for Keagan Bale 53
Dafydd Hughes (Scarlets / Llandovery College / Llandovery) for Liam Belcher 66
Keiron Assirratti (Blues/ Coleg y Cymoedd/ Wattstown) for Leon Brown 6
Seb Davies (Blues / Coleg y Cymoedd / Pentyrch) for Joe Davies 53
Josh Cole (Ospreys / Neath Port Talbot College / Tonmawr) for Jon Fox 53
Josh Middleton (Scarlets / Coleg Sir Gar / Kidwelly) for Jordan Viggers 40
