Wales recorded their first win of the U20 World Championship with a dogged 35-25 victory against a tenacious Spain team at Payanini Center, Verona - in a game that featured four players from Dragons RFC.
Wales trailed 18-14 at halftime but three second half tries ensured Wales finished inside the 5th-8th bracket, and will face England in the next round on Monday.
Spain opened the scoring in the fifth minute through halfback Nicolas Infer with a straight forward penalty as Wales flanker Deian Gwynne was led from the pitch.
Three minutes later Wales took the lead with a penalty try after lock Guardin Gonzalez Ciscar was ruled to have taken down a rolling maul as Wales steamrolled towards the tryline.
Infer reduced the lead to a single point with his second success of the afternoon and after a series of attacks on the Spanish line hooker Evan Wood broke from a maul to diver over by the corner flag. Harri Wilde’s excellent sideline conversion put Wales 14-6 ahead after 19mins.
Spain then went on the attack but twice staunch defence by Wales held them up over the line but eventually the pressure told and outside centre Oriol Marsinyac Garcia cut a fine line to score under the cross bar. Infer’s conversion brought Spain to within a point once again.
Wales scrum half Ellis Lewis received a yellow card in the 30th minute for tackling Hugo Pichardie off the ball to leave Wales a man down for the rest of the first half.
Spain immediately scented blood and despite the attention of three defenders, second row Liam McNamee powered over to put his side 18-14 ahead.
Spain proved a tough nut to crack but eventually Wales struck in the 50th minute when flanker Caio James surged over from close range. Wilde’s conversion put Wales 21-18 in front and on track to claim a crucial bonus point with a fourth try.
Wales then had to defend for their lives as Spain threw the kitchen sink at Harry Beddall’s side once again held them at bay over the try-line.
A double substitution of Harri Ford and Jack Woods paid off almost immediately when the Dragons fly half dummied his way down the blindside before offloading to Sion Davies who cantered over. Ford’s conversion put Wales 28-18 in front with 19mins remaining.
Spain refused to go away and reduced the arrears when No. 8 Manex Pujana Lendinez finished off a sweeping move. The conversion brought Spain to within three points of Wales with 13mins remaining
Great work by James off-loading before being bundled into touch saw Woods dance down the touchline to score Wales’ fifth try. Ford’s excellent conversion put his side 10 points ahead with 10 minutes remaining.
Spain threw everything at Wales in the dying stages, but Richard Whiffin’s side dug in to earn their first scalp of the championship.
