England went down battling to a strong New Zealand opposition who won by 24 – 11 on the hottest night of the IRB U19 World tournament in Dubai yesterday evening.

The earlier Australia v France semi final, which Australia won by 26 – 16, had to be put back 15 minutes because of excessive heat.  And it was the two southern hemisphere sides who made it to the final, leaving England and France the contest for third and fourth place.

England U19s and National Academy coach Nigel Redman said: “New Zealand put us under pressure man for man but we didn’t give up, we kept playing and scored a try right at the end.  In the second half we played most of the game in the opposition half and now we meet France, with the chance to finish higher than an England team has before, which is certainly something worth playing for.”

Captain and Sarcens centre, Adam Powell, said, “Although you can never be pleased with a defeat and we will be disappointed tonight we want to be a team that is remembered and to finish as the highest placed England team we could achieve that.”

England came out firing with the forwards looking strong and the backs running some good lines. Before long, however, New Zealand were on the attack and it was only Leeds Tykes full-back David Doherty who stopped a potential try after 12 minutes, chasing back, collecting the ball and making some good yards up the field.

Three minutes later New Zealand’s 11, Greg Tweddle,.nailed their first try and their full back, Colin Slade, the tournament’s top points scorer, made it 7 – 0 to New Zealand.  Leeds Tykes fly-half, Adam Greendale booted a penalty soon afterwards, making it 7 – 3.

England were playing some determined rugby but a Danny Care scrum-half chip and chase came to nothing and it took Sale Sharks winger, Selorm Kuadey,  to hassle the opposition into touch just short of the tryline. England regrouped only to see an intercept by New Zealand 12, Male Sa’u end under the posts and Slade add the conversion.

A penalty by Greendale made it 14 – 6 but Colin Slade sent another between the uprights just before the break to make it 17 – 6 to New Zealand.

The second half was a battling performance, England putting some good moves together behind their forwards and defending well.  After a crunching tackle from Leicester Tigers centre Tom Youngs, at 57 minutes the All Blacks’ scrum-half, Daniel Devereaux, spotted a gap and raced through, Slade adding the conversion to make it 24 – 6.

With 10 minutes to go England were unfortunate not to cross the line, Tykes full back David Doherty passing to Tigers winger, Ollie Dodge, who was taken out just short of the tryline.  It was to be Bristol Rugby and Bristol University’s lock, Dave Attwood who stole the show just before the whistle bursting through the New Zealand defence and driving over, to make it 24 – 11.  

 England U19s now meet France on Friday to determine third and fourth places. The game will be shown live on Sky Sports at 3pm BST.

England U19s: David Doherty (Leeds Tykes), Oliver Dodge (Leicester Tigers), Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers), Adam Powell (Saracens) captain, Selorm Kuadey (Sale Sharks), Adam Greendale (Leeds Tykes & Hymers College), Danny Care (Leeds Tykes), Hugo Ellis (London Wasps & St Benedict’s), Iain Grieve (Bristol Rugby), Alex Shaw (Leicester Tigers), Ben Thomas (Saracens & Haileybury College), Dave Attwood (Bristol Rugby & Bristol Uni), Tom Mercey (Saracens), Ross McMillan (Nottingham), Matthew Mullan (Worcester Warriors)

Replacements used:

Jordan Page (Leeds Tykes), Charlie Beech (Northampton Saints), Daniel Cole (Leicester Tigers), Sam McDonald (Worcester Warriors), Joseph Simpson (London Wasps & St Benedict’s), Richard Bolt (Exeter Chiefs, SWERA & Exeter College), Chris Pennell (Worcester Warriors), David Tait (Sale Sharks), Unused: Richard Bolt (Exeter Chiefs, SWERA & Exeter College), Jordan Turner-Hall (NEC Harlequins), Andrew Saull (Saracens & Bancrofts School)

 Thursday 13th April 2005 - South Africa U19 18 - 45 England U19 (Live on Sky Sports at 5pm BST)

Monday 17th April 2005 - Semi Final New Zealand 24 - 11 England  (Live on Sky Sports)

Friday 21st April 2005 – Third/Fourth place play off - England v France (Live on Sky Sports at 3pm BST)