[ad_1]
Wales began their Under-20s World Championship campaign with a narrow defeat at the hands of New Zealand in Paarl on Saturday.
A blistering first half saw Wales take command courtesy of tries from Lewis Lloyd, Dan Edwards and Morgan Morse, after Caleb Tangitau initially set the Baby Blacks on their way with an early opener.
But New Zealand came roaring back after the break, with Macca Springer, Sam Hainsworth and Che Clark all scoring.
Sam Scarfe went over late on after New Zealand’s Gabe Robinson was shown a late yellow card, but it was too little too late for Wales, although a bonus point will likely be some cause for comfort.
Indeed, while a disappointing result, this was a performance oozing with positives for Wales, particularly after a miserable Six Nations campaign earlier this year, and the subsequent resignation of Byron Hayward. It also means they pick up two losing bonus points, which could yet prove significant ahead of matches against Japan and France.
Interim boss Mark Jones will have been particularly pleased by the intensity shown by his side at times, and the fight in the face of what was a second-half onslaught from New Zealand.
Wales actually got off to something of a shaky start, with Tangitau on hand to finish off a slick setpiece after Wales were penalised for offside.
But they soon regained their composure, and came close to a reply on 15 minutes, only for Morse to be held up agonisingly short of the line.
Nevertheless, the Welsh belief continued to grow, with some perfectly executed mauling continually pushing New Zealand on the back foot.
Midway inside the first half, they found their breakthrough.
A slick lineout allowed Lloyd to nip in at the base of the ball before crashing over for the try.
Moments later, they were in front, with Edwards exploiting a pocket of space in the New Zealand defence to cross the whitewash following another exceptional maul.
New Zealand were rocking, as evidenced by the ease with which Lloyd pinched a horrifically poor lineout, before being held up just short of the line.
Even a shoulder injury to Ellis Fackrell didn’t seem to slow Wales down, and when Morse gobbled up the ball to finish after some work from Cameron Winnett, they really were in dreamland.
But the narrative of the second half couldn’t have been any different. New Zealand, as expected, rallied, and Wales struggled to lay a glove on their opponents.
Springer was on hand to dart over for an early score, before Hainsworth gave Wales a taste of their own medicine by finishing off a neat lineout routine.
Harry Godfrey added the extras, and was called upon to put his side ahead from the tee just a few moments later with a routine penalty.
Wales, under increasing pressure, lost the discipline and shape shown in the opening 40 minutes, and their opponents continued to turn the screw.
A fine cross kick towards the right-hand corner found Springer, who palmed back for the onrushing Clark to add another converted score.
But Wales still managed to muster up some signs of life, with replacement Robinson’s late yellow leaving New Zealand down to 14 men for the closing stage.
Scarfe initially thought he’d gone over to spark some hope of a dramatic comeback three minutes from time, but his try was ruled out for a knock-on on the line.
However, he wasn’t to be denied, and did bag himself a converted score just before the end, although his effort was ultimately too late to rescue a victory.
Wales continue their campaign against Japan on Thursday, before taking on France on July 4.
WALES: 15. Cameron Winnett, 14. Llien Morgan, 13. Louie Hennessey, 12. Bryn Bradley, 11. Harri Houston, 10. Dan Edwards, 9. Archie Hughes, 1. Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, 2. Lewis Lloyd, 3. Ellis Fackrell, 4. Liam Edwards, 5. Jonny Green, 6. Ryan Woodman), 7. Lucas De La Rua, 8. Morgan Morse.
Replacements: 16. Sam Scarfe, 17. Josh Morse, 18. Louis Fletcher, 19. Evan Hill, 20. Seb Driscoll, 21. Tom Florence, 22. Harri Wilde, 23. Harri Williams.
Tries: Lloyd, Edwards, Morse, Scarfe
Cons: Edwards x 3
NEW ZEALAND: 1. Ben Ake, 2. Jack Taylor, 3. Siale Lauaki, 4. Tahlor Cahill, 5. Will Stodart, 6. Che Clark, 7. Sam Hainsworth-Fa’aofo, 8. Peter Lakai, 9. Noah Hotham, 10. Taha Kemara, 11. Macca Springer, 12. Ajay Faleafaga, 13. Aki Tuivailala, 14. Caleb Tangitau, 15. Harry Godfrey.
Replacements: 16. Raymond Tuputupu, 17. Malakai Hala, 18. Gabe Robinson, 19. Tom Allen, 20. Malachi Wrampling-Alec, 21. Jordi Viljoen, 22. Leo Gordon, 23. Codemeru Vai.
Tries: Tangitau, Springer, Hainsworth-Fa’aofo Clark
Cons: Kemara x 2
Pen: Godfrey
16:54Key Event
Full-time
That’s it. A spirited performance, but iltimately Wales have fallen short.
79 minsKey Event
TRY! Wales 26-27 New Zealand
Would you believe it? Scarfe again! This time it’ll count.
Wales keep probing and Scarfe powers his way over the line.
Conversion this time is good.
A one-point game now.
16:50Key Event
No try!
Oh.
It’s been overturned after consulting with the TMO. Looks like it’s for a knock-on on the line.
78 minsKey Event
TRY! Wales 24-27 New Zealand
Scarfe goes over in the corner!
Edwards misses the conversion.
Wales still three adrift, with less than three minutes to go.
79 minsTom Coleman
No penalty try
Penalty instead. Wales will go for the corner.
78 minsTom Coleman
Close!
Wales might have a try here. Morse goes over in the corner after some prolonged Welsh pressure.
Gabe Robinson has been shown a yellow card for a deliberate offside when makinng a tackle.
This looks set to go to TMO…
73 minsTom Coleman
Missed penalty
Wales have a penalty and decide to go for the posts.
Edwards’ kick initially looks good but think it was probably taken up by the wind a little there.
Wide.
66 minsTom Coleman
Chance for New Zealand!
Big chance for New Zealand. A huge tackle from Springer on Hennessey sees the ball bobble free and Kemara has an open try line, but his handling’s poor and the chance is gone.
61 minsKey Event
TRY! Wales 19-27 New Zealand
What a try.
Cross kick looks for Springer out on the right, he palms the ball back in mid-air to Che Clark, and he slides across the line.
Conversion is good, and Wales sadly look to have run out of steam.
55 minsKey Event
Pen! Wales 19-20 New Zealand
Godfrey has the chance to put New Zealand in front for the first time….
No problem.
16:14Key Event
TRY! Wales 19-17 New Zealand
New Zealand’s lineout was poor in the first half, but it’s yield their second try of this second half.
It’s played short and driven towards the line, with Sam Hainsworth the man to go over.
Conversion is good, and New Zealand are bulldozing their way back in this.
Still early days in this second half, but it already looks a completely different game.
47 minsKey Event
TRY! Wales 19-10 New Zealand
New Zealand back in this.
The Wales defence loses its shape slightly under pressure and Macca Springer, hugging the touchline carves out a clean run to the line.
Conversion is missed.
15:47Key Event
Half-time
That’s the end of what was a simply sensational half for Wales.
They’re just 40 minutes away from a really, really special result here.
15:43Key Event
TRY! Wales 19-5 New Zealand
Wow.
Wales flying here.
Winnett wriggles his way through a gap in the New Zealand defence and makes for the line.
He’s held up. Inches short, but Morse is there to gobble up and crash finish it off.
Conversion is good.
34 minsTom Coleman
Wales forced into a change
Fackrell is coming off. He looks to have picked up a shoulder injury.
Louis Fletcher will replace him.
31 minsTom Coleman
Chance!
Lloyd pounces on a really poor New Zealand lineout within spitting distance of the tryline.
He’s held up and loses control of the ball. Knock-on.
A real let-off for New Zealand there. They look a little rattled at the moment.
26 minsKey Event
TRY! Wales 12-5 New Zealand
Another exceptional maul puts the New Zealand defence on the back foot on their own tryline, but they hold firm to keey Lloyd and Morse at bay.
But Wales recycle possession brilliantly, and some slick passing gives Dan Edwards an opportunity to exploit a pocket of space in the back line and he makes no mistake.
Edwards then dusts himself off to kick over the conversion.
Two very impressive tries from Wales so far.
15:25Key Event
TRY! Wales 5-5 New Zealand
Shows how much I know…
Wales are rewarded for their bravery.
Another impressive driving maul from the lineout allows Lewis Lloyd to nip in at the base of the crowd to go over.
Conversion missed.
20 minsTom Coleman
Wales asking questions
The latest in a series of penalties sees Wales go for the corner again.
At what point do they maybe settle for getting points on the board, you wonder?
15 minsTom Coleman
Held up!
Smart lineout from Wales.
Morse crashes over the line, but he’s held up by two New Zealand bodies.
Better.
13 minsTom Coleman
Not working for Wales
Wales spoil a lovely rolling maul with a poor kick from Hughes.
Will be pulled back for a lineout to New Zealand on the halfway line.
9 minsKey Event
TRY! Wales 0-5 New Zealand
Tangitau goes over in the corner.
Slick setpiece from New Zealand, with Hothman and Kemara involved.
Conversion is missed.
5 minsTom Coleman
Chance for NZ
Sloppy from Wales, who are penalised for offside. Scrum for New Zealand.
3 minsTom Coleman
Decent start
Both sides showing plenty of intensity with ball in hand in these early stages.
Lucas De La Rua penalised for a high tackle and New Zealand will go for touch.
14:59Tom Coleman
Now it’s the Haka
Wales now line up to face the Haka, which is performed with the intensity we’ve all come to expect tom New Zealand, no matter the age grade.
Nearly ready to go here.
14:55Tom Coleman
Anthem time
Both sets of players are out on the pitch for the anthems.
14:51Tom Coleman
Kick-off fast approaching
We’re 10 minutes away from gettnig down to business here.
14:48Tom Coleman
A word from Mark Jones
“It’s a very mixed team in terms of youth and experience.
“There are a lot of exciting players in there particularly around our backline and back row. There is also a lot of potential in the front five moving forward.”
Wales under-20s interim boss Mark Jones
14:12Tom Coleman
Wales are here
The Wales squad have arrived.
13:57Tom Coleman
Welcome
Afternoon.
Wales kick off their under 20s World Championship campaign against the Baby Blacks in South Africa this afternoon.
It promises to be a tough test for Mark Jones and his side.
Stick around for all the latest.
[ad_2]
Source link