Bailey scores as England U20 down Scotland

💨 Pace
💥 Power
🏁 Finish@BaileyDeago delivering on the international stage 📮pic.twitter.com/0IQpmjCnNZ

— Bristol Bears (@BristolBears) June 25, 2021

Bailey struck just before half time, applying a powerful finish to a slick set-piece play, while Jack Bates and Alex Groves both impressed as part of an impressive display from Alan Dickens’ side.

England had won their opening match of the competition with victory over France despite making a slow start to that match. They didn’t make the same mistake this time.

Captain Jack Van Poortvliet opened the scoring for England inside the opening three minutes, spotting a gap around the fringes of the ruck five metres out from Scotland’s try line and he had the pace to score. Fin Smith added the conversion.

Scotland responded almost immediately after finding success with the driving maul as Christian Townsend, son of Scotland and British and Irish Lions coach Gregor, touching down to score.

England hooker Sam Riley, who looked dangerous in attack throughout the game, showed superb hands to throw an inside ball for fly half Fin Smith who raced over for England’s second try before converting his own effort.

The moment of the half came from England winger Deago Bailey who showed incredible speed when the ball was spread wide, beating his opposite man to score in the corner. The conversion was missed to make it 19-5 at the break.

England continued their fine form into the second half as Man of the Match Sam Riley threw a dummy and then raced through after 50 minutes to score. 

The conversion was missed but the score gave England a 24-5 lead.

Riley saw yellow shortly after his try for infringing at the breakdown as Scotland began to build into the game and were camped on England’s line. England were then reduced to 13 players with 20 minutes left on the clock when flanker Lucas Brooke was shown a red card after a head collision in a tackle.

Scotland looked to have capitalised on their advantage with a try under the posts only for the TMO to rule that England’s Harry Taylor had held the ball up.

Scotland eventually broke through after 67 minutes when flanker Ollie Leatherbarrow crashed over from two metres out. England extended their lead soon after when a beautifully placed cross-field kick from Smith found Arthur Relton who stepped inside to score England’s fifth try.

Scotland had a late try disallowed when replays showed Scott King had put a foot in touch before scoring with the final whistle making it 31-12 to England in a display that would have pleased head coach Alan Dickens.

Next up for England is Ireland on 1 July with kick off at 20:00 BST as they look to make it three wins from three in the championship.

ENGLAND (19) 31

Tries: Van Poortvliet, Smith, O.Bailey, Riley, Relton Cons: Smith 3 

SCOTLAND (5) 12

Tries: Townsend, Leatherbarrow Cons: Scott  

England: 15 Orlando Bailey, 14 Deago Bailey, 13 Jack Bates, 12 Dan Lancaster, 11 Arthur Relton, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Jack van Poortvliet; 1 Phil Brantingham, 2 Sam Riley, 3 Harvey Kindell-Beaton, 4 Ewan Richards, 5 Alex Groves, 6 Emeka Ilione, 7 Lucas Brooke, 8 Jack Clement.

Finishers: 16 John Stewart, 17 Tarek Haffar, 18 Luke Green, 19 Arthur Clark, 20 Harry Taylor, 21 Nahum Merigan, 22 Raffi Quirke, 23 Tommy Mathews, 24 Phil Cokanasiga, 25 Tom Litchfield, 26 Charlie Atkinson.

ENGLAND'S U20 SIX NATIONS FIXTURES

•  Saturday 19 June: England 38-22 France
  •    Friday 25 June: England 31-12 Scotland
  •    Thursday 1 July:Ireland v England, KO 8pm
  •    Wednesday 7 July: Wales v England, KO 8pm
  •    Tuesday 13 July: England v Italy, KO 2pm 

All games take place at Cardiff Arms Park.