Match Report: Scotland U20 28-21 Wales U20
17 Jul 2026Scotland U20 rounded off their World Rugby Junior World Championship campaign with a 28-21 win over Wales in the fifth place Play-Off, to equal their best-ever finish in the competition.
Within the first 10 minutes of the game Wales got the first points on the board after Scotland were penalised for offside, they took the opportunity to kick to touch before recycling the ball from the lineout and crashing over the whitewash on the second phase. (0-7, 8mins)
Near half-hour mark Scotland’s defence was tested and although their efforts were courageous for many phases, Wales caught us on the back foot eventually allowing them to extend their lead to 0-14, 28 mins.
Minutes later Scotland made their charge thanks to a straight and storming run from winger Nairn Moncrieff, as the ball was recycled it found its way through the team with lovely off loads from second row Dan Halkton and prop Oliver McKenna. As they worked their way towards the tryline it was prop Ollie Blyth-Lafferty who twisted, turned and secured the ball down over the tryline with stand-off Jake Dalziel adding the extra two points on offer. (7-14, 32mins)
Two minutes later Scotland had found themselves deep into the Wales half once again. From nowhere outside centre Henry Kesterton scored a superb try catching the Welsh defence on the back foot and running a superb line to run in under the posts. Dalziel added the conversion to draw the scores level. (14-14, 34mins)
Half-time: Scotland U20 14-14 Wales U20
As the second half kicked off Scotland came out the changing rooms with an attacking mindset. Within the first two minutes they were up and charging at the whitewash to roll over but ultimately be held up over the line.
On the 45th minute Wales were shown a yellow card for a head-on-head contact with Scotland’s Oliver McKenna.
With the Welsh now down to 14 they got a maul moving from a lineout and stormed over the whitewash. It was Captain and hooker Joe Roberts who scored his fifth try of the tournament and gave Scotland the lead for the first time in the game with Dalziel slotting the ball between the posts to convert the try. (21-14, 47mins)
A delayed pass ten minutes later from Wales allowed them to burst through our defensive line and canter in over the tryline. They added the conversion to level the scores once again. (21-21, 59mins)
On the 62nd minute Wales were reduced to 14 men once again as they were shown a yellow card. With a penalty awarded in the same decision Dalziel kicked to touch to set up a rolling maul heading towards the Welsh tryline. Replacement scrum half Matthew Fick plucked the ball out and darted round the corner, he found winger Daniel Kelly who dived over the tryline with Dalziel converting once again for good measure. (28-14, 64mins)
With five minutes left to go Fick was shown a yellow card. Instantly Wales looked to capitalise on this. As they crossed the whitewash it was captain Roberts who held the ball up over the line.
Scotland were reduced to 13 men when Caven was also shown a yellow card. As Wales once again tried to score, they spilt the ball over the line letting their chance go.
Despite being down to 13 men Scotland’s gritty defence won them the game in the final moments of the match as they threw their bodies on the line.
Full-time: Scotland U20 28-21 Wales U20
Scotland U20: Rory McHaffie (Edinburgh Rugby), Dan Kelly (Watsonian FC), Henry Kesterton (Edinburgh Rugby), Alex Bryden (Glasgow Warriors), Nairn Moncrieff (Edinburgh Rugby); Jake Dalziel (Merchiston Castle School/Melrose RFC), Asa Stewart-Harris (Saracens RFC); Oliver McKenna (Glasgow Warriors), Joe Roberts (Glasgow Warriors) (captain), Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (Edinburgh Rugby), Alfie Blackett (Cardiff Metropolitan University) 5. Dan Halkon (Glasgow Warriors), Christian Lindsay (Edinburgh Rugby), Jack Utterson (Edinburgh Rugby), Harvey Preston (Glasgow Hawks)
Replacements: Jamie McAughtrie (Ayr RFC) (on for Roberts, 60mins), Jamie Stewart (Edinburgh Rugby) (on for McKenna, 60mins) , Jackson Rennie (Glasgow Warriors), Finlay Mather (Grammar Tec) (on for Halkon, 69mins), Oliver Finlayson Russell (University of St Andrews) (on for Preston, 25mins), Matthew Fick (Edinburgh Rugby) (on for Stewart-Harris, 63mins), Calum Jessop (Heriots RFC), Ewan Caven (Gloucester Rugby/Nottingham University) (on for Moncrieff, 63mins)
Wales U20: Lewis Edwards, Rhys Cummings, Osian Lewis, Steffan Emanuel, Tom Bowen, Carwyn; Leggatt Jones, Sion Davies; George Leyland, Tom Howe, Jac Pritchard, Will Evans, Osian Justin Williams, Tom Cottle, Caio James, Deian Gwynne.
Replacements: Oscar Thomas, Hudson Nevin, Yestyn Cook, Alex Ridgway, Sam Morgan, Cai Gealy, Lloyd Lucas, Bailey Cutts
Referee: Gonzalo de Achava (Arg)
Assistant Referees: George Selwood (Eng) & Saba Abulashvili (Geo)
TMO: Matt Rodden (HKC)
