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Rugby Union

England Rugby U20s through to first-ever world final

19/06/2008

The England U20s rugby side have won through to their first-ever Junior World Championship final after defeating South Africa 26-18.

Tries from Joe Simpson and Noah Cato gave the young guns the upper hand in the first-half at Cardiff Arms Park, only for mistakes to allow the Proteas back into the game.

But with the heavier English pack grinding down the challenge of their southern hemisphere opponents, Alex Goode was able to clinch two penalties to seal an English victory and set up a final clash with New Zealand at Swansea's Liberty Stadium this Sunday.

London Wasp Simpson gave the English a flying start with a breakaway try on six minutes with Goode slotting the conversion to open a seven-point lead.

And while South Africa's Francois Brummer scored a 16th minute penalty, Goode restored the English lead minutes later.

The northern hemisphere side's relief was soon halted, however, as Cecil Afrika gathered a clever blindside chip to pass inside for South African captain Gerrit Jan van Velze to score.

And when Saracens' Goode saw a kick charged down, Afrika crossed the whitewash, with Brummer converting.

But Cato put a smile back on English faces just before the break after intercepting Brummer's path before sprinting 70 metres for the try.

As the rain poured down in the second half, a Goode penalty gave England breathing room and with the English pack a stone heavier than the Springboks, the latter's ability to get back into the game was constricted.

Goode took England's lead to 11 points with a 66th minute penalty but Brummer's second penalty of the game left the tie on a knife-edge as the game entered the final ten minutes.

But with Brummer pushing a 78th minute penalty wide following English dissent, Hugo Ellis' side were able to hang on to reach their first-ever Junior World Championship final.

Their clash with the top seeded Kiwis kicks off at 19:00 BST on Sunday.