Warriors wing wonder Miles Benjamin got England’s Six Nations campaign off to a flying start with a superb score against Wales in the Under 20 international at Kingsholm.
Benjamin’s wing partner Noah Cato added to the English effort by touching down twice in a impressive first half display. The two 19-year-olds both touched down on their Guinness Premiership debuts for Saracens and Worcester Warriors respectively this season and showed why they are such hot properties with a try apiece in the first half in England’s 28-15 victory.
Bristol centre Luke Eves added a third try early in the second half and Saracens fly half Alex Goode added two conversions and two penalties to complete a convincing win.
Wales threatened early on and clawed their way back into the game when lock Josh Turnball scored in the corner to add to Leigh Halfpenny’s penalty and the Blues wing then converted his own late try after blazing his way through a midfield gap.
England had been forced to make one late change, a hamstring injury forcing Saracens flanker Andy Saull out of the side. Worcester’s Matthew Cox stepped into the breach with Harlequins’ Tom Sargeant drafted in on the bench.
Warriors highly rated backrow Cox backed up his season’s impressive A league campaign with some fine disruptive work at breakdown which prevented the Welsh side from offering much attacking threat. Cox’s appetite for hard work and commitment to the breakdown left him as the stand out back row performer.
They were bright in the opening few minutes – Benjamin, Cato and Eves all threatening in broken play – before Wales put together a coherent spell with Jimmy Norris going close on the left and Daniel Evans missing with a long-range drop-goal.
Then they gained the ascendancy with a series of close-range drives for the line and just when Wales thought they had weathered the storm they were floored by Cato’s superb surge 24 minutes in.
A lineout 40 metres out gave fly half Goode the chance to pick out the wing, who burst through a midfield hole and then changed the angle of his run to outstrip the cover and score.
Goode converted and 10 minutes later added the extra points from wide out to a scintillating second from Benjamin who showed the 4,500 crowed what the Sixways faithful have been seeing of late.
Wales were overloaded out wide by Eves and Tonks who gave Benjamin the chance to show the finishing power that has earned him a Premiership starting spot at Worcester by brushing off tackles and keeping his balance to go over on the right.
Halfpenny replied immediately with a penalty for Wales but England continued to look dangerous before the break to set up the position for Goode to add another three points.
And although Wales regrouped briefly, they were in real trouble when Eves added a third try after a turnover was spun wide and Cato offloaded inside for the Bristol centre to score in the 50th minute.
Benjamin nearly got on the scoresheet again when he just failed to gather Goode’s cross kick and Cato was called back for a forward pass in the build-up when Greig Tonks put him in the clear.
Goode kept the scoreboard ticking over with a second penalty after 56 minutes to send his side 22 points clear but they weren’t home yet as Wales staged a combative revival.
Scarlets lock Josh Turnball spun off the side of a ruck in the corner to throw his side a lifeline with 20 minutes remaining and they continued to make life uncomfortable for the hosts at the breakdown.
The game was halted while Wales No.8 Lloyd Phillips received lengthy treatment before being carried off and immediately after the restart Halfpenny struck from long-range to put England under pressure for the last five minutes.
They regained control, though, and Goode’s third penalty put them in the clear once more to complete a memorable and promising victory.
Jonny Arr completed the Warriors hat trick by earning his international cap and controlling the game in the closing period with some accurate distribution and management of the forward pack.