A try from Dragons RFC wing Harry Rees-Weldon proved crucial as Wales U20 a secured a 28-24 win over the Regional Academies XV at Llandovery’s Church Bank ground.
Bath prop Ioan Emanuel was again a key figure and having scored twice in the 42-21 triumph at the Arms Park a week earlier and didn’t waste any time in adding to his tally in the second and final warm-up game ahead of the U20 Six Nations campaign for Richard Whiffin’s team.
One of only five starters retained in the Wales U20 line up, he barged his way over in the seventh minutes after a dominant opening from the younger team. Next on the scoresheet was Sale Sharks centre Osian Roberts, who made the most of some good fortune when a chip by midfield partner Ellis Price bounced kindly.
Dragons outside half Harri Ford converted both tries to give the Wales U20 team a 14-point lead in as many minutes. The Academies XV hit back with a try from Ebbw Vale and Dragons No 8 Owen Conquer that Josh Phillips improved, but then Emanuel struck again.
Once again the prop’s try was converted by Ford to make it 21-7, but 10 minutes later Emanuel was sent to the sin bin after three scrums came under pressure from the Academies XV. They made the most of their advantage and Ospreys scrum half Lucca Setaro rounded off some good approach play with a try that made it 21-12 at the break.
The second half was even more competitive and the Academies XV outscored their rivals by two tries to one to cut the gap in the end to a mere four points. They pushed hard for the winning score as they fully tested the Wales U20 resolve and defence.
Scarlets’ hooker Isaac Young was the first to score in the second half for the Academies XV and the Phillips conversion made it a three-point game. Ahead of their opening game against France in Vannes on Saturday 1 February it was just the kind of contest Whiffin was looking for his side.
They were forced to dig deep and an excellently taken try from Dragons’ wing Harry Rees-Weldon 10 minutes from time opened up a gap big enough to successfully defend in a hectic closing period.
The Academies XV did manage a fourth try of their own, from Dragons’ hooker Tomoya Adachi from a driving maul, but it went unconverted and Wales U20 were able o hold on for a notable triumph.
Scorers: Wales U20: Tries: Ioan Emanuel 2, Osian Roberts, Harry Rees-Weldon; Cons: Harri Ford 2, Harri Wilde. Academies XV: Tries: Owen Conquer, Lucca Setaro, Isaac Young, Tomoya Adachi; Cons: Josh Phillips 2
Wales U20: Lewis Edwards (Ospreys); Aidan Boshoff (Bristol Bears); Osian Roberts (Sale Sharks), Elis Price (Scarlets), Ieuan Cornelius (Ospreys); Harri Ford (Dragons), Carwyn Edwards (Sale Sharks); Ioan Emanuel (Bath), Harry Thomas (Scarlets, captain), Owain James (Dragons), Nick Thomas (Dragons), Kenzie Jenkins (Bristol Bears), Arthur Moore (Bath), Ryan Jones (Dragons), Evan Minto (Dragons)
Reps: Morgan Williams (Dragons), Lewis Jones (Carmarthen Quins), Jac Pritchard (Scarlets), Dylan Alford (Scarlets), Tom Cottle (RGC), Harry Beddall (Leicester Tigers), Sion Davies (Cardiff Rugby), Harri Wilde (Cardiff Rugby), Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff Rugby), Iori Badham (Scarlets)
Regional Academies XV: Sam Potter (Dragons); Jac Davies (Scarlets), Iestyn Gwilliam (Carmarthen Quins), Gabe McDonald (Scarlets), Macauley Rowley (Bridgend); Josh Phillips (Swansea), Lucca Setaro (Scarlets); Freddie Chapman (Ospreys), Isaac Young (Scarlets), Joe Cowell (Cardiff Rugby, captain), Ben Roberts (Ospreys), Ilan Evans (RGC), Evan Rees (Cardiff Rugby), Charlie Probert (RGC), Owen Conquer (Dragons)
Reps: Tomoya Adachi (Dragons), Harry Olding (Bridgend), Paddy Nelson (RGC), Ethan Phillips (Cardiff), Kobi Rees (Dragons), Rhodri Lewis (Scarlets), Fraser Jones (Cardiff Rugby), Gabe Lacey (Bridgend), Cori Lewis-Jenkins (Ospreys), Kodi Stone (Cardiff Rugby)
