Report: Scotland U20 40-53 Wales U20

With the clock in the red and the score at 46-40, Scotland tried to go the length to win it, but an intercept try from Wales secured their victory.

Scotland had the early territory, but Wales on their first period with ball in hand scored the opening try. Rhys Cummings cut inside from the left, evading the grasp of two defenders to make it into the corner. Carwyn Leggatt-Jones converted. (0-7, 14 mins)

Will Pearce levelled the scores five minutes later. A succession of penalties got Scotland into the right corner, and as the forwards battered at the line it was the loosehead prop who got the telling inches. Dalziel converted from under the posts. (7-7, 19 mins)

The visitors again saw joy down the left, with Sam Morgan this time fighting through the tackles and getting into the corner. Leggatt-Jones again converted. 7-14, 24 mins)

Lewis Edwards then coasted over on the right shortly after to extend the lead as Scotland were cut open on the flank. (7-19, 26 mins)

The arrears were cut shortly after, with the Scottish forwards again hammering at the line. But this time it was stand-off Jake Dalziel who forced his way between two defenders and over, and converted his own score. (14-19, 29 mins)

Again it was on the wings that Wales broke through with Leggatt-Jones’ lovely looping pass finding Dylan Scott in acres of space on the right. (14-24, 34 mins)

Morgan went over for his second, and it was back the left corner where he threw a dummy in a 2v1 situation and dotted down. Leggatt-Jones converted with the last play of the half (14-31, 40 mins)

Half time: Scotland U20 14-31 Wales U20

Two minutes into the second half Scotland got a third score. From a tap and go penalty five metres out, Dan Halkon crashed over just right of the posts and Dalziel converted. (21-31, 42 mins)

Jamie Stewart soon got on the scoreboard, as Scotland held onto the ball for over 20 phases and eventually got the fourth score from short range through the big replacement prop. (26-31, 50 mins)

But Wales were quick to respond, winning a penalty for offside and kicking into the right corner where the maul dragged Oscar Thomas over. (26-36, 53 mins)

Fortune fell in Wales’ favour when a kick ricocheted off Brogan Leary’s face and bounced over the line for him to dive on. (26-41, 61 mins)

An excellent line from Osian Williams saw him split the defence and go over on the right. (26-46, 65 mins)

Stewart got a second to drag Scotland back into it, firing under the posts from a five metre tap penalty. Wolfenden converted. (33-46, 72 mins)

Harry Soboil’s break up the left was followed by an excellent offload to Daniel Kelly, who ran round under the posts. Jessop converted. (40-46, 78 mins)

But as Scotland tried to run from their own 22 for the game-winning score, Cai Healy intercepted and ran under the posts. Lloyd Lucas converted. (40-53, 80 mins)

Full time: Scotland U20 40-53 Wales U20

Scotland U20: 15. Rory McHaffie (Edinburgh Rugby)14. Daniel Kelly (Watsonian FC) 13. Harry Soboil (Edinburgh Rugby) 12. Ross Wolfenden – Vice-captain (Edinburgh Rugby)
11. Ewan Caven (Gloucester Rugby/Nottingham University) 10. Jake Dalziel (Merchiston Castle School/Melrose RFC) 9. Adam McKenzie (Watsonian FC) 1. Will Pearce (Cardiff Metropolitan University/Bristol Bears) 2. Joe Roberts – Captain (Glasgow Warriors) 3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty – Captain (Edinburgh Rugby) 4. Alfie Blackett (Cardiff Metropolitan University) 5. Dan Halkon (Glasgow Warriors) 6. Christian Lindsay (Edinburgh Rugby) 7. Jack Marshall (Saracens/Loughborough University) 8. Harry Jackaman (Watsonian FC)

Replacements: 16. Jamie McAughtrie (Ayr RFC) 17. Jamie Stewart (Edinburgh Rugby) 18. Jackson Rennie (Glasgow Warriors) 19. Finlay Mather (Grammar Tec) 20. Finn Ronnie (Watsonian FC) 21. Sam Byrd (Edinburgh Rugby) 22. Jack Utterson (Edinburgh Rugby) 23. Oliver Finlayson-Russell (University of St Andrews) 24. Matthew Fick (Edinburgh Rugby) 25. Calum Jessop (Heriot’s Rugby) 26. Harry Clark (Watsonian FC) 28. Harry Provan (Glasgow Warriors) 29. Asa Stewart-Harris (Saracens) 30. Ollie Anderson (Melrose RFC)

Wales U20: 15 Lewis Edwards (Ospreys) 14 Dylan Scott (Cardiff Met) 13 Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff Rugby) 12 Jack Hoskins (Ospreys) 11 Rhys Cummings (Cardiff Rugby) 10 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (Scarlets) 9 Sion Davies (Cardiff Rugby) 1 George Tuckley (Dragons RFC) 2 James Talamai (Dragons RFC) 3 Jac Pritchard (Scarlets) 4 Will Evans (Scarlets) 5 Tom Cottle (Cardiff Rugby) 6 Deian Gwynne CAPTAIN (Gloucester Rugby) 7 Sam Morgan (Ospreys) 8 Evan Minto (Dragons RFC)

Replacements 16 Oscar Thomas (Bath Rugby) 17 Dylan James (IOspreys) 18 Isaac Godfrey (Exeter Chiefs) 19 Luke Evans (Exeter Chiefs) 20 Osian Williams (Bristol) 21 Caio James (Gloucester) 22 Alex Ridgway (Bath Rugby) 23 Cai Gealy (Bristol Bears) 24 Lloyd Lucas (Cardiff Rugby) 25 Tom Bowen (Cardiff Rugby) 26 Steff Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby) 27 Bailey Cutts (Cardiff Rugby) 28 Brogan Leary (Dragons RFC) 29 George Leyland (Bristol Bears) 30 Tom Howe (Cardiff Rugby)