Wales strong second-half performance helps them register 19 – 9 victory over England - Rugby
Wales hosted England in their second pre-World Cup warm up match at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on Saturday, August 13. The win has helped Wales to draw the two-match series one – all. Earlier, during the last weekend, England defeated the Wales 23 –
19 at Twickenham, London.
Wales started the match strongly as their fly half for the match, Rhys Priestland, put the hosts in the lead with his first minute penalty. England equalised a minute later, courtesy of their fly half Toby Flood’s first penalty of the match.
Both teams were aggressive in their intent as they both pressed hard to gain control over the proceedings. Wales were able to win their second penalty of the first-half with some strong running in the ninth minute of the game.
Priestland’s successfully kicked the penalty to put the hosts in the lead again. In the passage following the Wales second penalty, both teams fought hard for ball possession and restricted each other from developing a threatening pass as most of the game
was played in mid-field.
England was able to level the scores again through their fly half’s 22nd minute penalty. Wales utility back and centre for the game, Gavin Henson, was substituted in the 31 minute of the game after he sustained an injury.
Henson injured his arm, during his 31st minute tackle on the English captain Mike Tindall.
In the remaining period of the first-half, neither of the teams was able to put any additional points on the board. Both sides left the field at the end of the first half, with scorecard reading 6 – all.
England started the second-half strongly, they were first to score in the half to put them in the lead for the first time in the match. Flood scored his third and last penalty of the match in the 1st minute of the second-half to take the scorecard
reading 9 – 6, in favour of England.
The following quarter of the game was marked by successive tackling and tight rugby, as teams found it hard to develop a move and create a scoring opportunity. However, Wales looked the better team during the passage.
Wales’ fullback James Hook pulled off a magnificent try in the 57th minute of the game, to put the hosts in the lead again. Hook followed with his conversion to take the scorecard reading 13 – 9. Hook’s 66th minute penalty extended
the Wales lead to the 7 points, as England found it hard to score.
Wales suffered a major setback after their scrum half Mike Phillips was sin binned in the 70 minutes of the game. England tried their best to seek advantage of the situation but Wales were able to hold the England surge back.
Hook scored Wales 5th penalty of the match in the 78 minute of the game, to take the game virtually away from England. In the remaining time of the game, England was required to score a try and conversion but they failed to do so, as Wales extended
their dominance over England at Cardiff.
Wales head coach Warren Galtand has expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance in the match.
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