Holders England Community Lions will play France at the FK Radnicki Stadium, Belgrade on Saturday (kick off 6pm, local time) to decide the winners of the 2024 European U19s Championship. It is a repeat of the 2022 decider in Italy which the Lions won 14-12, however, in the previous tournament – also held in the Serbian capital in 2018 – the French emerged victorious 26-24.
England qualified with a 52-4 win over Ukraine in the first semi final, posting nine tries, Marcus Geener and Daniel Knott both with doubles, on another swelteringly hot day. “The scoreline doesn’t represent the hard work the Ukrainians put into that game,” said England U19s head coach Gary Hewer. “It was extremely tough and they never stopped coming at us, they really dug deep and caused us several threats.
“We’ve worked hard on execution and taking our chances and that showed. We came with one aim, to win the tournament, and we’ve now got that opportunity.”
Ukraine led thanks to an early Ihor Yefanov penalty but England were 30-4 up at the break, the pick of their tries from scrum half Devan Sharp who showed three dummies to jink his way over. To their enormous credit Ukraine kept England out for the third quarter but succumbed to three late long range tries.
Ukraine U19s head coach, Dan Beardshaw, commented: “We were against a well-organised, experienced side who are so good at what they do but I’m so proud of the efforts of my players, especially in scramble defence.
“For 20 minutes of the second half the score was 0-0 and we caused them a lot of problems. Attacking-wise, we’re not yet smart enough but the boys are going to take huge experience from that for the next game.”
In the other semi final, France had to work incredibly hard to overcome a gallant Scotland side who were in contention until two minutes from time, when Wassim Mouelhi’s try and Mateo Jimenez-Lopez’s fifth conversion saw their side home 30-18.
“It was as competitive as we expected,” said France U19s head coach Remi Casty. “It was red hot and there was a lot of indiscipline and that is something we are going to have to change for the final.”
In a feisty clash, five players were sinbinned in all, three for the French who took a first minute lead through Giovanni Descalzi Ganthier. They were 16-6 in front at the break thanks to Yllan Mongay picking up a loose ball and Baptiste Pourchi pouching a clever kick to the corner, hooker Bailey Schneider replying for the young Bravehearts.
France eased out to a 16-point advantage at the start of the second half but quickfire touchdowns to Jacob Grierson and Oscar Ellicott-McCulloch set up the dramatic finish.
Scotland U19s head coach, Leigh Beattie, noted: “We knew it would be a tough ask, but we had a gameplan and we stuck to it very, very well. The desire and heart the lads showed was amazing and they deserve all the plaudits.”
In the opening game of the day, USA Young Hawks, in their first tournament, finished fifth overall after defeating Serbia 40-12, scoring three tries in a blistering opening 14 minutes. George Tupou, USA Young Hawks head coach, said: “Serbia are a big team but we had better preparation this time, came ready to play and the boys showed their desire out there.”
Logan Myers, Drayson Moliga and impressive stand off Chris Malo with the first of his hat trick all crossed inside a quarter of an hour, Filip Cirkovic stopping the onslaught with his score. Two Malo tries in ten minutes after the break ensured the win, Edin Mehmedi restoring some pride for the hosts when he powered his way through to score between the posts.
“We were better than our last performance,” commented Serbia U19s head coach Vladislav Dedic. “We showed up, scored two good tries and battled through the heat.”
On Saturday’s finals day, USA will face Ukraine (kick off 2pm) and Serbia take on Scotland (kick off 4pm) in ranking matches before the final. All games can be watched on the European Rugby League facebook page.
ENGLAND 52
Sam Murtagh, Jacob Haigh, Marcus Geener, Henry Ogden, Daniel Knott, George Jamieson, Devan Sharp, Miller Dalton, Scott Simmons, Tom Farren, Keane Elms, Ben Metcalfe, Joe Lewis
Interchanges: Alfie Hough, Jack Lawler, Fletcher Holgate, Joshua Langley.
Tries: Murtagh (7), Elms (11), Farren (15), Sharp (24), Geener (34, 58), Ogden (62), Langley (65), Knott (70, 73)
Goals: Jamieson 9/10
UKRAINE 4
Ryan Jurkans, Vadym Dotsiak, Maksym Reshetukha, Andrii Mordovanets, Mykhailo Novosad, Ihor Yefanov, Aziz Stepanenko, Maksym Harmash, Ivan Mazur, Bohdan Mazu, Arsen Havdo, Kostiantyn Tiurin, Phoenix Death
Interchanges: Andrii Hladkyi, Nazar Shmalko, Kyrylo Volkov, Ruslan Lipisii
Goals: Yefanov 2/2
Referee: Enzo Peyre (France)
Half Time: 30-4
FRANCE 30
Loris Zammut, Baptiste Pourchi, Clement Martin, Romeo Tropis, Yllan Mongay, Mateo Jimenez-Lopez, Maxime Rostang, Alexis Lis, Matis Jammes, Giovanni Descalzi Ganthier, Anthony Munico, Trevor Chiffolleau, Felix Aubry
Interchanges: Felix Gautier, Bonte Rayan, Wassim Mouelhi, Mikael Lettat
Tries: Descalzi Ganthier (1), Mongay (25), Pourchi (31), Rayan (41), Mouelhi (78)
Goals: Jimenez-Lopez 5/6
Sin Bin: Lis (7 – high tackle), Mouelhi (39 – foul play), Pourchi (52 – foul play)
SCOTLAND 18
Hayden Cumming, Oscar Ellicott-McCulloch, Cam Culllen, Seth Clapham, Frazer Murray, Oliver Brady, Alfie Maclean, Reece Smethurst, Bailey Schneider, Isaac Reid, Jacob Grierson, Harry Roper, Tom Gray. Interchanges: Gabe Lewis, Fraser Macauley, Joey Clarkson, Maxwell Shelton.
Tries: Schneider (9), Grierson (58), Ellicott-McCulloch (66)
Goals: Brady 3/4
Sin Bin: Smethurst (8 – punching), Clapham (69- shoulder charge)
Referee: Craig Davies (Wales)
Half Time: 16-6
SERBIA 12
Silver Zenuni, Filip Cirkovic, Mihailo Markovic, Filip Nesic, Danilo Gavrilovic, Sasa O’Flynn, Luka Trifunovic, Aleksandar Stojanovic, Stefan Andric, Edin Mehmedi, Nikola Mitrovic, Nikola Savic, Luka Bojicic. Interchanges: Nikola Miricic, Mateja Stojkovic, Jakov Dojcinovic, Strahinja Milankovic.
Tries: Cirkovic (26), Mehmedi (66)
Goals: Trifunovic 1/1, Nesic 1/1
USA 40
Sulusi Satele, Tumua Moors, Isaac Fonua, Siaosi Koloamatangi, Drayson Moliga, Chris Malo, Michael Fonua, Cadin Ioane, Logan Myers, Jayden Hansen, Simote Manatua, Esiloni Malafu, Kenyon Paea, Beckham McGill, Ammon Haley, Ethan Ivy, Lidarius Moananu.
Tries: Myers (1), Moliga (5), Malo (14, 46, 56), Manatau (33), Moors (76)
Goals: Malo 1/1, Fonua 3/3, Moananu 2/3
Referee: James Spencer (Ireland)
Half Time: 6-24
