Game 1
Wales 12 lost to England 26
European Championship 1996 Game 1 |
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Match URL | www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/14984 | |||||||
Status | Completed | |||||||
Date | Wednesday, 26th June, 1996 | |||||||
Referee | Bill Harrigan | |||||||
Venue | Cardiff Arms (Cardiff) | |||||||
Crowd | 5,524 | |||||||
Match Stats | ||||||||
Halftime Score | 6 | – | 8 | |||||
Penalties | 1 | – | 6 | |||||
Wales | Scoresheet | England | ||||||
Jason CRITCHLEY | T | Shaun EDWARDS | ||||||
Chris MORLEY | Bobbie GOULDING | |||||||
Chris JOYNT | ||||||||
Steve PRESCOTT | ||||||||
Iestyn HARRIS | 2 | G | 5 | Bobbie GOULDING | ||||
Wales | Teams | England | ||||||
Paul ATCHESON [Oldham] |
1 | FB | 1 | Steve PRESCOTT [St Helens] |
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Diccon EDWARDS [Castleford] |
2 | W | 2 | Jason ROBINSON [Wigan] |
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Allan BATEMAN [Cronulla] |
3 | C | 3 | Gary CONNOLLY [Wigan] |
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Gareth DAVIES [Warrington] |
4 | C | 4 | Nathan McAVOY [Salford] |
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Jason CRITCHLEY [Keighley] |
5 | W | 5 | John BENTLEY [Halifax] |
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Iestyn HARRIS [Warrington] |
6 | FE | 6 | Daryl POWELL [Keighley] |
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Ian WATSON [Salford] |
7 | HB | 7 | Shaun EDWARDS [Wigan] |
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Mark JONES [Warrington] |
8 | FR | 8 | Paul BROADBENT [Sheffield] |
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Keiron CUNNINGHAM [St Helens] |
9 | HK | 9 | Johnny LAWLESS [Sheffield] |
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Neil COWIE [Wigan] |
10 | FR | 10 | Steve MOLLOY [Featherstone] |
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Paul MORIARTY (c) [South Wales] |
11 | 2R | 11 | Chris JOYNT [St Helens] |
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Mark PERRETT [Halifax] |
12 | 2R | 12 | Paul SCULTHORPE [Warrington] |
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Chris MORLEY [St Helens] |
13 | L | 13 | Andy FARRELL (c) [Wigan] |
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Martin HALL [Wigan] |
14 | B | 14 | Steve BLAKELEY [Salford] |
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Richard WEBSTER [Salford] |
15 | B | 15 | Bobbie GOULDING [St Helens] |
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Rowland PHILLIPS [Workington] |
16 | B | 16 | Barrie McDERMOTT [Leeds] |
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Gareth STEPHENS [Hull] |
17 | B | 17 | Mick CASSIDY [Wigan] |
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Clive GRIFFITHS | HC | Phil LARDER | ||||||
Team Info
Wales
- Previous Game:
- European Championship 1996 - Game 1 vs. France
- Next Game:
- [no comp] - vs. England
- Out:
- Gerald Cordle (wing), Anthony Sullivan (wing), David Young (front row), Jason Lee (bench)
- In:
- Diccon Edwards (wing), Allan Bateman (centre), Neil Cowie (front row), Gareth Stephens (bench)
- Changes:
- Jason Critchley (centre to wing), Rowland Phillips (second row to bench), Mark Perrett (lock to second row), Chris Morley (bench to lock)
England
- Previous Game:
- European Championship 1996 - Game 1 vs. France
- Next Game:
- [no comp] - vs. Wales
- Out:
- Paul Newlove (centre), Martin Offiah (wing), Karl Harrison (front row), Steve McNamara (second row), Paul Rowley (bench), Matt Calland (bench), Adrian Morley (bench)
- In:
- Nathan McAvoy (centre), John Bentley (wing), Daryl Powell (five-eighth), Andy Farrell (lock), Bobbie Goulding (bench), Barrie McDermott (bench), Mick Cassidy (bench)
- Changes:
- Steve Blakeley (five-eighth to bench), Paul Sculthorpe (lock to second row), Steve Molloy (bench to front row)
Match Report
by DAVE HADFIELD
England are European champions in one code of football but only after a titanic struggle from a Welsh side that once more far exceeded the sum of its parts.
Two late tries gave the illusion of a relatively relaxed English victory. In fact, Wales pushed them all the way and were the better, more creative side for much of the match.
It was shortly before half-time before England took the lead against a Welsh side which had been the more impressive during the first 44 minutes.
Their tackling, with Allan Bateman setting the standard despite only flying in from Australia this week, was superb and their use of the ball, based on their forwards' ability to make more ground than their counterparts, was more productive.
They took the lead in the ninth minute with a try that showcased their other built-in advantage - the running skills of Iestyn Harris. Finding a gap in the English defence, he raced for the corner and, although he was caught by Steve Prescott's alert covering, he could still lob the ball inside for Chris Morley to score on his full Welsh debut, Harris adding the goal.
England were flat and uninspired and needed considerable Welsh help even to get on the scoreboard. Kieran Cunningham went high on Steve Blakeley and Bobby Goulding landed the penalty point.
As England gradually felt their way into the game, a combination of Morley, Bateman and Paul Aitcheson somehow managed to stop Jason Robinson touching down after he had gone over the try-line.
Gary Connolly was also repulsed on the line but Wales could not stop Chris Joynt when he juggled a pass by Paul Broadbent to go over from close range, Goulding's goal giving England a tenuous advantage.
After the interval, Goulding finally made England pressure pay, darting from dummy half to find a Welsh defence for once failing to pay attention.
Wales' response was magnificent, Harris picking up Atcheson and his run denting the English defence for Jason Critchley to back up on the inside and score.
In the 67th minute of a match played in front of a gratifying crowd for such a hopeless night, England effectively clinched it when Connolly jinked his way from deep in his own half and found Shaun Edwards in support for the converted try that finally let them breath more easily.
A long-range effort from Prescott four minutes from time flattered England with what now looked a comfortable win. It had been anything but that.
Source: WalesRL.co.uk
This match is a part of the following:
Contributions:
Cymru RL, Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson