\n<\/p>\n
Buoyed by the belief inspired by narrower scorelines against Ireland and Scotland, Wales fans had dared to dream before kick-off, snarling and singing through England’s warm-up.<\/p>\n
It took only three minutes for reality to intrude. England kicked a penalty to the corner, caught, drove and burrowed over though captain Maro Itoje.<\/p>\n
England’s Under-20 side had taken a similarly early lead the previous night at the neighbouring Cardiff Arms Park, only to be overhauled by a committed Wales performance.<\/p>\n
Blair Murray scooping up a loose ball and scampering in might have been the spark for a similar comeback, or at least longer-lasting resistance.<\/p>\n
But referee Nic Berry chalked off the score, spotting Tomos Williams getting involved in play from an offside position after an Alex Mitchell box-kick had been spilled.<\/p>\n
A minute later, Tom Roebuck – picked out by a fizzed Fin Smith miss pass – showed tremendous reach and strength to dot down with Murray hanging off him, which stretched England’s lead to 14 points inside 10 minutes.<\/p>\n
The visitors kept winning the small battles. <\/p>\n
Gareth Anscombe was held off the floor after running into a tag team of Will Stuart and Tommy Freeman. Ben Earl celebrated a scrum penalty. Luke Cowan-Dickie made a superb tap-tackle to deny Murray.<\/p>\n
And by the end of the half England were making big dents in the scoreline.<\/p>\n
Freeman cantered in on 34 minutes after quick hands from Northampton team-mates Fin Smith and Fraser Dingwall to become the first Englishman to score in every round of a Six Nations campaign. <\/p>\n
On 38 minutes, Chandler Cunningham-South, on early for the injured Ollie Chessum, powered through Murray on his second surge in quick succession.<\/p>\n
With the final play of the half, Stuart stepped and shunted over. Fin Smith only missed the final conversion and England went down the tunnel 33-7 ahead, with the bonus point already secured.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n