Wales’s final game of the U18 Six Nations Festival ended in defeat, losing 34-13 to an impressive Italy at Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester.
Chris Horsman’s side produced a heroic defensive effort in the first half and held Italy to 10-10 at the break, but in the second half Italy stormed to victory with elusive running and a cutting edge which cut Wales to shreds.
No 8 Lorenzo Cannone surged over after a barnstorming run with replacement scrum half Stephen Varney (2) and Tommaso Menoncello tries ensuring their side finished second in the festival.
Italy targeted the breakdown in the early stages and camped inside the Welsh 22 but against the run of play it was Horsman’s team who took the lead.
Louis Rees-Zammit sped down the touchline before kicking infield. The bounce evaded the Italian defence and centre Ioan Evans picked up the ball and ran unopposed to the tryline. Ioan Evans added the conversion to put Wales 7-0 ahead.
Full back Leonardo Marin then danced his way through the Welsh defence to send Riccardo Favretto free but heroic defence from full back Dan Jones and try-scorer Evans sent the big lock into touch short of the corner flag.
Italy continued to pose a threat with ball in hand and it came as no surprise when the scores were evened up in the 27th minute.
The forwards hammered away at the tryline before scrum half Manfredi Albanese stole the ball from under the noses of his pack to snipe over from close range. Leonardo Marin added the extras before putting his side in front for the first time in the 33rd minute when he landed a penalty.
Wales levelled the scores when Ioan Lloyd replied with a penalty to leave the two sides locked at 10-10 at the break.
Wales had to soak up an enormous amount of pressure in the second half but managed to keep Italy at bay. Lloyd put Wales back in front in a game which ebbed and flowed throughout.
Impressive No 8 Lorenzo Cannone burst through the Welsh midfield to score next to the posts to give Marin an easy conversion as Italy recaptured the lead, 17-13.
Stephen Varney pounced from close range to score Italy’s third try to put clear daylight between the two sides for the first time in the match.
Tommaso Menoncello then finished Wales off with a brilliant solo effort where he burst through the midfield and outstripped the covering defence. Varney then sealed the deal after Marin waltzed through the tired Welsh defence and gave the scrum half an easy run-in to the try-line.
