Jason Strange’s Wales side maintained their unblemished record in this year’s U20 Six Nations with a six-try, 42-16 win against England at Ashton Gate.
Wales’ first-ever victory on English soil at this level puts them 80 minutes away from claiming an historic U20 Six Nations title.
Winning their four games so far, Wales are two points clear of France and they now host winless Italy in Colwyn Bay next Friday for what promises to be a memorable evening unless the Azzurini can pull a shock result out of the bag.
Wales wasted no time in putting their barren run in England to bed. Four tries came in a 30-minute first-half blitz with Wales’ shell-shocked hosts only managing a penalty from fly-half Matthew Protheroe in reply.
Flanker Shaun Evans was the first to cross for Wales, after good work from scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams, and he was followed over the whitewash by Harri Millard, Daniel Jones and the influential Keelan Giles (pictured above) as Wales stormed into a 28-3 lead.
England responded with a try for Sam Smith and two Protheroe penalties, and their spirits were raised further after the break when Wales lost number eight Harrison Keddie for 10 minutes following a high tackle.
However, any hopes England had of completing a famous comeback lay in tatters when scrum-half Max Green followed him into the sin-bin after he illegally thwarted a promising Welsh attack with a deliberate knock-down.
Wales took full advantage of their numerical advantage to run in two more tries. Keddie picked up at the base of a scrum and crossed under the posts to redeem himself before the electric Giles rounded off the scoring after intercepting a pass on halfway.
France see off Scotland
France kept their slim hopes of a second U20 title in three years alive with a 36-21 win away in Scotland.
Following their narrow defeat to Wales a fortnight ago and Wales’ win in England, Les Bleuets must beat England in Pau and hope Italy can do them a favour in North Wales.
France went into the game with an unbeaten record against Scotland in under-20 rugby but they were made to work hard for their latest victory.
Half-backs Antoine Dupont and Anthony Belleau ran the show for the French, the latter notching 16 points through a try, four conversions and a penalty.
For Scotland, opposite number Adam Hastings confirmed he has the potential to be every bit as good a goal-kicker as his father Gavin with three sweetly-struck penalties, one from well over 50 metres, and a conversion as the home side showed the sort of resolve that escaped them when losing by 41 points in last season’s corresponding fixture.
After Scotland conceded an early penalty try, Hastings was on target with his first two efforts to reduce the gap to one point. Ben Robbins then took a sharp inside line to sneak over from close range and put Scotland ahead for the first time in the 26th minute, but Hastings' conversion slid wide.
The French struck back five minutes later when scrum-half Dupont’s kick found Martin Laveau in acres of space and the ball bounced kindly for the winger to touch down for a try which Belleau converted. However, Hastings reduced the deficit on the stroke of half-time as he nudged a 50-metre penalty with room to spare.
Dupont’s counter-attack from deep inside the French 22 led to Damian Penaud going over for the first points of the second half. Unperturbed, Scotland took full advantage of Mathieu Tanguy’s yellow card for a ruck infringement to score on the hour mark through flanker Matt Smith. Hastings was again on target with the conversion.
The game remained in the balance until Judicael Cancoriet and Belleau scored late on.
Ireland stage another comeback
Ireland had to overcome a first-half deficit for the second game running before coming through 19-13 against Italy.
Trailing 13-6 at the break, Shane Daly's try got Ireland back in it early in the second half and they held out for their second win, after losing their opening two fixtures.
Brett Connon kicked a penalty either side of one from Italy’s Leonardo Mantelli to hand Ireland a 6-3 lead approaching the half hour mark.
Shortly after, Connacht prop Conan O’Donnell paid the price for yet another scrum penalty going against his team with a yellow card. Italy struck back when flanker Giovanni Pettinelli dived over from close range. Mantelli turned the five points into seven with the conversion and then added a penalty as Italy went into the break seven points up.
The returning O'Donnell made an immediate impact on his return, using his pent-up frustration to force a penalty at scrum time which Connon kicked. The momentum continued to be with Ireland and Connon made it a one-point game on 50 minutes with his fourth penalty.
The game-changing moment came when Vincenzo Trussardi’s pass was intercepted by Will Connors. His offload found Conor O’Brien who put centre partner Daly away for a simple run-in.
Ireand conclude their fixtures at home to Scotland in what is effectively a straight shootout for third place.
