Italy 10 Wales 43
Though the scoreline suggests that this was an easy win for Wales, they were made to work hard for every score as Italy were much more competitive than they had been earlier in the week against England.
Wales though are a powerful side with plenty of skill out wide and when fullback James Loxton went over for a try after just a minute, it quickly looked like it would be another convincing win for the Welsh who defeated Ireland in their opening game earlier in the week.
Liam Powell added another try out wide and with the extras from Chris Lewis-Pratt they took an early 14-0 lead. Italy though showed some good fight and the likes of hooker Andrea Manici came storming into the game and their good pack play saw outhalf Fillipino Michelini dash through the defence to score.
Wales got back into with another try, this time from flanker Morgan Allen, but they leaked another try before the break when lock Paolo Stinchelli barged his way over the line.
Wales were more potent in attack at the start of the second half and early tries from Loxton, James Thomas and Ieuan Coombes really killed the game off. Italy did themselves no favours when they had two players sent off following a scuffle and from there it was one-way traffic for Wales, who added further points through Coombes again and Lewis-Pratt with the boot.
Wales U18 Coach Simon King said that he was pleased with the big scoreline: “We made nine changes from last week and still managed to score 43 points so I have to be happy with that.
“Italy gave us a big physical challenge but it was good to see that we took the chances we created and we have players in this squad who take the opportunities they get and take some good scores. Two wins for us is good so far and we look forward to the last game, against France on Tuesday.”
Scorers
Italy:
Tries: Fillipino Michelini, Paolo Stinchelli
Wales:
Tries: James Loxton (2), Liam Powell, Morgan Allan, James Thomas, Ieuan Coombes (2)
Cons: Chris Lewis-Pratt (4)
Italy: Michele Mortali (Gran Parma Rugby), Sebastian Rodwell (Firenze), Ricciardi Costantino (Petrarca), Tommaso Benvenuti (Viadana), Nicola Belardo (Partenope), Fillippo Michelini (Viadana), Alberto Chillon (Petrarca), Matteo Zamparo (Amatori San Dona), Andrea Manici (Gran Parma), Edoardo Carugi (Firenze), Fillipo Cazzola (Montebelluna), Paolo Stinchello (SSD Unione Capitolina), Fillppo Ferrarini (Noceto FC), Gabriele Cicchinelli (SSD Unione Capitolina), Lorenzo Santelli (ASD Universita Cosenza) (Captain)
Replacements: Giovanbattista Venditti (SSD Unione Capitolina) (for Belardo 38), Antonio Denti (Viadana) (for Carugi 45), Nicola Corbanese (Ruggers Tarvisum) (for Zamparo 45), Edoardo Gori (Cavalieri) for (Chillon 51)
Wales: James Loxton (Blues), Liam Powell (Exiles), Scott Williams, Ashley Beck (Ospreys), Adam Hughes (Dragons), Chris Lewis Pratt (Exiles), Gareth Davies (Scarlets). Gareth Jenkins (Ospreys), Ceri Davies (Ospreys), Stewart Maguire (Dragons), Lloyd Peers (Ospreys), James King (Scarlets), Morgan Allan (Ospreys), James Davies (Scarlets), James Thomas (Dragons) (Captain)
Replacements: Tom Crandon (Dragons) (for Stinchelli 23), Dave Francis (Dragons) (for Allan 41), Ieuan Coombes (Dragons) (for Powell 41), Rhys Jenkins (Dragons) (for Davies 42), Rhys Downes (Blues) (for Davies 48), Rhys Williams (Blues) (for C Davies 55), Simon Gardiner (for Maguire 55), Daniel Watchurst (Dragons) (for Jenkins 58), Matthew Jarvis (Ospreys) (for Williams 65)
Referee: C Brett (Scotland)
