WALES U19 COMFORTABLY BEAT SCOTLAND
IRB Under 19 World Championship
SCOTLAND 5 WALES 35
Wales, bidding to bounce back from defeat in their opening game against New Zealand, made the perfect start when flanker Joshua Turnbull was worked over from a catch-and-drive move in only the second minute, and centre Ashley Smith cashed in on turnover ball and skipped through some weak tackling for try number two, fly half Rhys Jones converting both to establish a 14-point advantage.
Scotland managed to stem the tide but the catch-and-drive ploy worked well again for Wales in the 21st minute when No.8 Sam Kiley crashed over, and his side claimed their fourth try of the evening when a loose Scottish pass was swiftly switched to winger Jimmy Norris who dashed away down the touchline from some 60 metres, Rhys Jones adding his fourth conversion for a half-time lead of 28-0.
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Scotland emerged for the second period with more purpose and focus and enjoyed more territory and possession in the opening 10 minutes, battering away at the try line. Captain and fly half Cameron Ferguson came closest to scoring, slipping through a tiny opening. But he lost the ball as he dived for the touchdown and Wales grabbed the chance to clear their lines.
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The Six Nations Grand Slam champions finally extended their advantage in the 32nd minute when skipper Bradley Davies was put into space wide on the left after good quick hands by Rhys Jones and Smith, but the try of the night – and the biggest cheers of the evening – came in injury time when Scotland winger Colin Goudie received the ball just inside his own half in the centre of the field and set off on a diagonal run for the right corner, just having enough strength to muscle over the line.
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Wales complete their group fixtures against Romania in Sharjah on Thursday while Scotland take on Japan at the same venue.
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Wales U19: Rhys Priestland (Scarlets); Alec Jenkins (Scarlets), Gareth Maule (Dragons), Ashley Smith (Dragons), Jimmy Norris (Dragons); Rhys Jones (Sale/Exiles), Darren Allinson (Scarlets); Hugh Gustafson (Scarlets), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Jamie Corsi (Dragons), Bradley Davies (Blues, capt), James Down (Blues), Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), Lewis Evans (Dragons), Sam Kiley (Ospreys)
Replacements: Keiron Jenkins (Blues), Nicholas Eaves (Blues), Lou Reed (Scarlets), Marc Breeze (Ospreys), Martyn Thomas (Scarlets), Robert Lewis (Dragons), Matthew Larsen (Blues), Marc Jones (Exiles), James Lewis (Dragons), Daniel Franks (Blues), Luke Ford (Blues)