England and Czechia win U18 titles

Photo: U18 winners - the Czechia team in Bystrc and Flo Robinson & Lauren Summers from the winning England team in Swansea

On Saturday Czechia were impressively winners of the Central European Cup. Playing at home in the small town of Bystrc – a suburb of the city of Brno – the Czechs were comfortable winners, continuing what has been a remarkable year for Czech rugby.

In a double round-robin the Czechs beat the higher ranked Poland 19-5 and 17-5, as well as outclassing Hungary 50-0 and 52-0. Poland were runners up with two wins over the Hungarians.

The weekend also saw the second U18 Home Nations tournament in Swansea. Holders Ireland swept through the opening day, unbeaten again, only last year’s beaten finalists England getting within 10 points of the Irish. Topping the pool gave them a semi-final against bottom team Scotland.

Unsurprisingly perhaps England won their other two games to set up a semi-final against hosts Wales.

On Sunday Scotland produced the tournaments biggest surprise result, beating Ireland 19-14 – the first time the Irish had lost in the tournament’s two year history.

England improved on their first day 24-5 win over Wales with a 24-0 win in the second semi-final, setting up a final against Scotland where they swept to a 38-5 win.

Results

Central European Cup:Czechia 19-5 Poland; Poland 41-7 Hungary; Czechia 50-0 Hungary; Czechia 17-5 Poland; Poland 31-0 Hungary; Czechia 52-0 Hungary

Home Nations:Pool games:Ireland 26-7 Scotland; Wales 5-24 England; Ireland 22-12 England; Wales 19-14 Scotland; Wales 10-24 Ireland; Scotland 12-27 EnglandSemi-finals:Ireland 14-19 Scotland; Wales 0-24 EnglandThird place:Ireland 31-14 WalesFinal:Scotland 5-38 England

Squads

Czechia: Viktorie Lančová, RC Tatra Smíchov); Tereza Březinová (RC Slavia Praha); Věra Gärtnerová (RC Mountfield Říčany); Kristýna Kubatá (TJ Sokol Mariánské Hory); Alice Anderlová (RC Bystrc); Kateřina Dobrovolná (RC Dragon Brno); Julie Doležilová (RC Tatra Smíchov); Eliška Sluková (RC Tatra Smíchov); Julie Petříková (TJ Sokol Mariánské Hory)

England: Jodie Ounsley, Georgia Newman, Maisy Allen, Alicia Maud, Sadia Kabeya, Flo Robinson, Lauren Summers, Charlie Mai Manns, Alex Baker, Abi Kershaw, Mia Venner, Grace Crompton

Scotland: Cieron Bell; Abbie Bruce; Shona Campbell; Rhea Clarke; Sarah Denholm; Eva Donaldson; Roma Fraser; Neve Henderson; Gerry Kimm; Ciara McCulloch; Holly McIntyre; Katie McLaren; Emma Orr; Orla Proctor; Rachel Phillips; Meryl Smith; Eve Thomson; Evie Wills

Wales: Beth Huntley, Chelsea Jones, Darcy Thomas, Ffion Owen, Hannah Powell, Jade Hughes, Megan Davies, Megan Webb, Melissa Gnojek, Nia Grundy, Sian Davies, Tygan Pinch

Ireland: Grace Browne Moran (Westport/Connacht); Beibhinn Parsons (Ballinasloe/Connacht); Ava Ryder (Westport/Connacht); Ivana Kiripati (Buccaneers/Connacht); Kate Farrell McCabe (Gorey/Leinster); Caoimhe O’Callaghan (Dundalk/Leinster); Amanda McQuade (Virginia/Ulster); Mya Alcorn (Letterkenny/Ulster); Lucy Turkington (Dungannon/Ulster); Méabh McElligott (Listowell/Munster); Marlise Flynn (Carrick-on-Suir/Munster); Chisom Ugwueru (Ennis/Munster)