WALES UNDER 21’S OVERPOWER NEW ZEALAND
WALES U21 53 NEW ZEALAND U21 YOUTH 3
Coach Chris Davey and his assistant Dai Rees were all smiles after a superb run out for the young Wales side prior to opening their Six-Nations Championship matches against England at Newport in February.
The New Zealanders made little headway against a talented Wales squad, superbly marshalled by fly half Aled Thomas and with wing Nathan Brew, in particular, outstanding in a speedy back division.
Up front, Wales often gain turnovers with skipper Jon Mills powerful at No 8 and Rhys Shellard energetic on the flank, while locks Alun Wyn-Jones and Ian Evans towered over their opponents and Cai Griffiths was always to the fore in a strong front row.
The visitors began with a stirring Haka, ending up with several players eye-balling their Welsh opponents, but there the aggression ended.
After only two minutes Wyn-Jones crossed for a try at the post and Thomas converted and the latter placed a penalty soon after Shellard had scorned an overlap by going it alone. The flanker soon made amends with superb link work with Brew and further tries looked imminent.
Though fly half Troy Nathan placed a good goal for New Zealand, Thomas gained three such scores – one after Duane Goodfield and Ricky Williams had split the defence. Then in first-half injury time, a superb Thomas break saw flanker Chris Davies dive over for Thomas to convert to make it 26-3 at the break.
Chris Czekaj crossed, but left a foot in touch after 41 minutes, before visiting flanker Ben Farrell was yellow-carded and while he was off, Thomas landed his fifth penalty.
The last pass often went astray, but in the 58th minute, a turnover saw Gavin Evans and Shellard combine to send Czekaj in and after wholesale changes, Tom Riley brilliantly picked up a pass from replacement Rhodri Wells to race clear and Williams converted.
Despite two classy runs from centre Warren Dunn, Wales came on stronger and on 78 minutes Brew and Czekaj helped Williams score a try that he converted and in injury time long passing saw Czekaj sent his Cardiff clubmate, replacement centre Dafydd Hewitt, across for the sixth try.
Wales: Ricky Williams; Aled Brew, Tom Riley, Gavin Evans (Dafydd Hewitt 59), Chris Czekaj; Aled Thomas (David Flanagan 68), Wayne Evans (Rhodri Wells 59); Scott Roberts, Duane Goodfield (Rhys James 58), Cai Griffiths (Ross Davies 59), Alun Wyn-Jones, Ian Evans (Ben Thomson 68), Chris Davies(Tom Smith 70), Rhys Shellard, Jon Mills (capt).
Scorers – Tries: Chris Czekaj, Dafydd Hewitt, Chris Davies, Alun Wyn-Jones, Tom Riley, Ricky Williams. Cons – Aled Thomas 2, Ricky Williams 2. Pens – Aled Thomas 5.
New Zealand: Marty Campbell; James Rosenberg, Warren Dunn, Dan Waenga, Paul Tuuate; Troy Nathan, Kevin Farrell (Craig Donovan 74); Ben Marshall, Peter Mirrielees (capt) (Robert Foreman 59), Matt Wallace, Simon Hanlon, Bryn Evans, Paul Rogers, Ben Farrell (Jeff Kerr 72), Jason Hawker.
Not used: John Penberthey, Corey Oxley, Phillip Blatch, Wesley Webster.
Yellow Card: Ben Farrell (49-59).
Scorer – Pen: Troy Nathan
Referee: Rob Debney (England RU).
