Three tries in the opening half an hour from winger Alex Wills, Archie McParland and Ioan Jones raced the young roses into a 15-point lead, before Welsh full-back Huw Anderson went over to reduce Wales’ arrears at the break.
In front of a 14,500-strong crowd, Wales would improve in the second-half but wouldn’t be able to force a breakthrough as Richard Whiffin’s side fell to their first defeat of the campaign. Replacement forward Scott Kirk sealing the bonus point win for the English with a score late on.
Both sides came into the game after opening victories – England having defeated Italy 36-11 with Northampton flanker Henry Pollock scoring a hat-trick and Wales triumphing in a thrilling 37-29 win over Scotland.
For the Welsh a new era had begun after a disastrous campaign last year saw the young Dragons face a whitewash of defeats.
This season with Whiffin at the helm and a host of talent emerging from the four Welsh URC regions, there has been a sense of optimism in the camp ahead of the campaign. Led by new captain Harri Ackerman and starred in by Ospreys breakout star Morgan Morse, amongst others a battling opening day win showed grit and character.
The match in Bath though would be one step too far for the Welsh as they would struggle to contain the powerful English scrum.
Sale Sharks winger Wills would open the scoring early on going over in the corner after a quick spread of play, before providing a chipped pass which was gathered by full-back Jones in the same corner.
Scrum-half McPartland’s try would be directly made from the English scrum as he powered over from the five-yard line, but Wales would still be within sight after fly-half Rory Taylor missed a series of kicks.
With the English down to 14, Wales would profit to respond. Dragons centre Akerman’s hustling seeing the ball won in the roses twenty-two with Wales working the line well before regional teammate Anderson would burst through for his second score in as many games.
Wales came close to further closing the gap just on half-time but a series of handling errors would prove to be costly as they would lack a clinical edge when presented with decent chances to score.
The second-half would be a more even affair as the Welsh held their own but six points from replacement fly-half Josh Bellamy would put the game to bed.
England added the gloss to the victory securing their bonus point with five minutes to play after South African-born forward Kirk emerged from a pile of bodies after several phases of play.
Whilst the Welsh would fall short against England there would be plenty of positives to take from the performance into their next fixture against Ireland at Cork in a fortnight’s time.
Wales Under-20s:
Huw Anderson (Dragons), Harry Rees-Weldon (Dragons), Louie Hennessey (Bath), Harri Ackerman (Dragons, captain), Walker Price (Dragons); Harri Wilde (Cardiff),
Ieuan Davies (Bath);
Freddie Chapman (Ospreys), Harry Thomas (Scarlets), Patrick Nelson (RGC),
Jonny Green (Harlequins), Osian Thomas (Leicester Tigers), Lucas de la Rua (Cardiff),
Harry Beddall (Leicester Tigers), Morgan Morse (Ospreys).
Replacements:
Evan Wood (Cardiff Met), Jordan Morris (Dragons), Sam Scott (Midlands Central), Nick Thomas (Dragons), Owen Conquer (Ebbw Vale), , Rhodri Lewis (Ospreys), Harri Ford (RGC), Macs Page (Scarlets).
[Lead image: Welsh Rugby Union]
