Rugby Union: Students' win gives Welsh morale a lift

Welsh Universities yesterday gave their countrymen a boost before today's Five Nations finale with a 28-17 victory over their English counterparts.

Carl Morgan, Tristan Evans and Paul Jones scored tries for the Welsh in a match watched by the England coach, Jack Rowell, and the Welsh Rugby Union chairman, Vernon Pugh.

While Rowell was hoping to spot some promising players for the future, some of today's most powerful performers who have given England a hard time in the World Cup were in action in Sydney in the Super 12 tournament. Two late tries by the substitute flanker, Daniel Manu, helped New South Wales to their first victory in this year's competition as they beat Canterbury 25-8.

The home side struggled in the first half to break down New Zealanders' stubborn defence and led by only 9-8 at the break thanks to three Matt Burke penalties. The Wallaby full-back kicked two more penalties to make it 15-8 and when Manu came on as a 58th-minute replacement for the Test forward Michael Brial, the Australians began to take a grip. But they had to wait until five minutes from time to cross the Canterbury line.

A superb break from David Campese - recalled after NSW's 33-26 defeat by Waikato in their opening game - stretched the visitors' defence and a clever pass put Manu in for the touchdown. Manu's second try came in injury time. After a fierce forward drive from a penalty, the Tongan-born flanker barged over the Canterbury line.