Wales Under-20s notched their first points of the Six Nations campaign as they beat the French for the first time since the Grand Slam season of 2016 in atrocious conditions in Colwyn Bay on Friday evening.
Wales took the lead when skipper Jac Morgan pounced on a French mistake and hacked the ball on. Leicester Tigers outside-half Sam Costelow ghosted through before putting half-back partner Ellis Bevan over for the converted score.
Visiting outside-half Thibault Debaes slotted a penalty and added another soon afterwards to reduce the arrears to a point.
In the second half, a kick by France substitute scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec forced Costelow to concede a five metre scrum and Wales, now a man down, went behind as prop Sacha Lotrian forced his way over the line for an unconverted try.
However, Wales were rewarded with a lineout drive resulting in a try for hard-working No.8 Morgan Strong, Costelow converting, to take the spoils.
Wales U20: Jacob Beetham (Cardiff Blues); Frankie Jones (Aberavon), Bradley Roderick (Ospreys), Aneurin Owen (Dragons), Mason Grady (Cardiff Blues); Sam Costelow (Leicester Tigers), Ellis Bevan (Cardiff Met); Theo Bevacqua (Cardiff Blues), Dom Booth (Scarlets), Ben Warren (Cardiff Blues), James Fender (Ospreys), Ben Carter (Dragons), Ioan Davies (Cardiff Blues), Jac Morgan (capt, Scarlets), Morgan Strong (Ospreys).
Replacements: Will Griffiths (Dragons), Callum Williams (Scarlets), Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby), Rhys Thomas (Ospreys), Gwilym Bradley (Cardiff Blues), Dafydd Buckland (Dragons), Joe Hawkins (Ospreys), Josh Thomas (Ospreys).
