As the game entered the final ten minutes the Wolves stepped on the gas and great work close to the Thunder posts saw Broadbent link into the line and send a long ball out to Hartill who slid over in the right corner and then a fine drive from substitute Luke Thomas led to a great break by scrum half Leon Hayes and from a quick play the ball Beddall forced his way over at the side of the posts. Briers added the conversion.

In the final minute a pinpoint cross field kick from Briers into the in-goal area saw Burnett use his height to outjump his opposite number and collect the ball to score wide out on the left. Briers converted from wide out to bring up the half century as the young Wire completed an impressive 50-14 victory.

After the game Academy Head Coach Paul Anderson said: “It is great to be back and the biggest positive today is not the result or the performance, it is the fact we are playing. Credit to the Thunder players and staff they came and really challenged us physically and caused us loads of problems, but we must give credit to our own players and staff and with 7 first year academy players it is certainly a performance that we can now build on, not only this season, but for the continuing development of our own young players.”

U19s kick-off 2021 campaign in style with Thunder victory