Dan Watchurst’s Wales Under 20 side bounced back from the disappointment of losing to England last weekend to comfortably beat Scotland at the Arms Park.
The visitors travelled buoyed by their 8-8 draw with their French counterparts on the opening weekend of the Six Nations Under 20 championship and looked threatening with the ball in hand.
But the power of Watchurst’s pack meant they were denied a solid enough platform from which to release their dangerous runners and, in the end, Wales could and should have won by a bigger margin.
Two tries by Scotland’s dynamic full back Tom Brown, one in each half, kept his side in the hunt, but a try from scrum half Rhys Downes 15 minutes into the second half really sealed the victory.
It was a close range try from Scarlets prop Simon Gardiner that gave Wales the platform from which to launch their victory march and two penalties and a conversion from outside half Matthew Jarvis ensured the Welsh youngsters led 13-7 at the break.
Then came the Downes try from a five metre scrum and Jarvis added the extras to extend the lead to 13 points.
But no sooner had the home side worked themselves into a strong position than they relaxed in defence and allowed Brown to break through for his second try.
Thankfully, wing Oliver Grove missed with the conversion, as he had done minutes earlier with a reasonable penalty attempt, and the gap remained at two scores.
Wales dominated the territory and possession in the second half and pegged Scotland back in their own territory with a range of useful kicks from Jarvis and man of the match Dan Fish at full back.
Kristian Phillips showed some excellent touches, and bags of pace, on the right wing and Scott Williams was a handful in the midfield. Both he and his centre partner Owen Williams were unlucky not to add to the Welsh try tally, Scarlets centre Scott Williams having his thrilling 55 metre solo effort ruled out by the TMO for a toe on the touchline as he dived to score.
“Our scrum was very pleasing, we got our line-out sorted and we could have scored a couple more tries. We tried to move the ball and I’m very pleased with the reaction of the side after the disappointment of last week,” said Wales Under 20 coach Phil Davies.
Wales U20 coach Phil Davies said: It was a good open game of rugby and a good advert for U20s Six Nations.”
“We had a couple of chances to score a couple more tries but I’m pleased for the boys. We played some good rugby, we tried to move the ball as did Scotland.
Wales U20 (13) 20
Tries: Gardiner, Downes Cons: Jarvis 2 Pens: Jarvis 2
Scotland U20 (7) 12
Tries: Brown 2 Cons: Grove
Wales Under-20: Dan Fish (Blues); James Loxton (Blues), Owen Williams (Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Kristian Phillips (Ospreys); Matthew Jarvis (Ospreys), Rhys Downes (Blues); Dan Watchurst (Dragons, capt), Rhys Williams (Blues), Simon Gardiner (Scarlets), Macauley Cook (Blues), Lloyd Peers (Ospreys), James Thomas (Dragons), Josh Navidi (Blues), Morgan Allen (Pontypool).
Replacements: Ieuan Davies (Glamorgan Wanderers), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Toby Faletau (Dragons), Rhys Jenkins (Dragons), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Steve Shingler (Scarlets), Matthew Pewtner (Dragons). Travelling reserve: Lee Rees (Scarlets).
Scotland Under-20: Tom Brown (Edinburgh Accies); Oliver Grove (Worcester Warriors), James Johnstone (Currie), Alex Dunbar (Selkirk), Dougie Fife (Currie); Alex Blair (Edinburgh Accies), Alex Black (Leeds Carnegie); George Hunter (Glasgow Hawks), Alun Walker (Currie), Colin Phillips (Stewart’s Melville), Matthew Reid (Heriot’s), Robert Harley (West of Scotland), Michael Maltman (Heriot’s), David Denton (Edinburgh Accies), Stuart McInally (Watsonians, capt).
Replacements: Lindsey Gibson (Melrose), Nicky Little (Hawick), Aaron Hall (Newcastle Falcons), Callum Stidston-Nott (London Scottish), Kris Hamilton (Caithness), Matthew Scott (Currie), Callum McBurnie (Moseley).
