England U20s maintain impressive start with win over France
Men's Under-20 Six Nations
England 27 (17)
Tries: James, penalty, Hanson Cons: Coen 2 Pen: Coen 2
France 10 (10)
Tries: Britz Cons: Jurd 1 Pen: Jurd 1
England maintained their 100% start to the U20 Six Nations thanks to a 27-10 victory over France at the Recreation Ground.
The defending champions followed a 19-3 win over Ireland in their opening match with a gritty victory in wet conditions to leapfrog France to the top of the table.
England took an early lead thanks to a fine try from Kane James - England's player of the match against the Irish - when he touched down after Jack Bracken had burst down the right flank.
Diego Jurd kicked a penalty to reduce the deficit for France before the home side seized the upper hand when they were awarded a penalty try.
An England maul drove towards the tryline midway through the half but the visitors brought it down illegally, with Baptiste Britz sent to the sin-bin, to give Mark Mapletoft's side a 14-3 lead.
France rallied shortly before half-time to register a try when Britz powered over the line after smart work by Bartholome Sanson.
The second half was an attritional affair with the French forced on to the back foot after they were reduced to 13 players when Sialevailea Tolofu was shown a yellow card.
England managed to put gloss on the display in front of a crowd of 11,561 with a late try from Dom Hanson.
England host Scotland in their next match on 21 February, before France head to Italy on 22 February.
England Under-20s: Jack Kinder; Jack Bracken, Angus Hall, Nic Allison, Charlie Griffin; Ben Coen, Lucas Friday; Ralph McEachran, Kepu Tuipulotu, Vilikesa Sela, Olamide Sodeke, Tom Burrow; George Timmins, Henry Pollock, Kane James
Replacements: Louie Gulley, Oliver Scola, Tye Raymont, Oscar Beckerleg, Aiden Ainsworth-Cave, Dom Hanson, Josh Bellamy, Nick Lilley
France Under-20s: Ugo Pacome; Robin Taccola, Fabien Brau-Boirie, Xan Mosques, Oliver Cowie; Thibaut Motassi, Diego Jurd; Antoine Deliance, Elyjah Ibsaiene, Baptiste Britz, Bartholome Sanson, Corentin Mezou; Isaac Koffi Sedjoro, Lyam Akrab, Mohamed Megherb
Replacements: Quentin Algay, Edouard-Junior Jabea Njocke, Owen Sorhaindo, Charles Kante-Samba, Nicolas Darquier, Sialevailea Tolofua, Simeli Daunivucu, Jean Cotarmanac'h
