Two Bristol youngsters starred in England Under-18's impressive 61-3 victory over hosts Italy in the opening game of the Five Nations Festival in Parma on Easter Sunday.

Eighteen-year-old prop Mako Vunipola and fellow Bristol prop Henry Thomas (Millfield School) were named in the starting line-up, while lock Ben Glynn (Filton College) and Mako's brother Billy Vunipola (Castle School) were selected as replacements.

Billy Vunipola came on for flanker Joe Trayfoot after 27 minutes while Glynn replaced Sam Twomey in the second row shortly after the hour mark.

Wasps' Christian Wade collected a hat-trick of tries in an impressive second half for the England young guns, while his club and country team-mate Jack Wallace, who also bagged a brace of tries, was named man of the match.

England had to do without their captain Alex Gray for the tournament opener through illness, but Saracens' Owen Farrell – son of England international Andy – led the side well and fly-half George Ford kept the scoreboard ticking over for England with eight conversions.

England coach John Fletcher said: "This was a positive start to the tournament. We performed much better in the second half compared to the first half, where we were a little slow off the mark and missed our opportunities. The changes we made after the restart paid dividends though and we pulled through to get a comfortable win.

"Italy certainly had their opportunities, so I am pleased with our defensive effort which kept them to just three points.

"We now play Scotland on Wednesday so there's little time in between games, but the lads are in good condition."

Wallace opened England's account early on with an 11th-minute try after a good line-out saw Ford get the ball out to Wallace, who then ran in under the posts.

Minutes later, he added his second after a good scrum with Ford, Farrell and Jonathan Joseph also involved.

Italy hit back with a penalty on 18 minutes, but Leicester's Matthew Everard eased England into a 19-3 lead at the break after some more good work by the forwards in a line-out.

After the restart, England came out firing and picked up their game to run in six tries. Farrell kept England's momentum going when he made a good break to set up some multi-phase play between the backs and the forwards, before London Irish wing Sam Edgerley finished off England's attack and ran in to score. Ford again converted.

Wasps No 8 Sam Jones claimed try number five before Wade added the first of his three tries. Ryan Glynn made the vital break and then found Wade on the right wing, who ran in to score.

Skipper Farrell crossed for the other England try.