Dragons RFC hooker Tiaan Hall scored a second half try as Wales came tantalisingly close to pulling off a huge upset at Stade Municipal Louis Darragon before succumbing 33-31 to France in the second round of the U18 Six Nations Festival in Vichy.
Both teams played attacking rugby throughout but the home side managed to sneak over the line in the second half after Richie Pugh’s side held a deserved 20-12 lead at the break.
Wales - who also included Dragons trio full back Sam Morgan, wing Ryley Fussell and fly half Will Ford among the replacements - were stunned into action when the home side scored after Wesley Masima bulldozed his way over from close quarters.
However, Wales hit back after scrum half George Thomas took a quick tap. France were pinged for being offside but it didn’t matter as Wales flung the ball wide for winger Jac Williams to score in the corner
Wales took the lead for the first time in the 23rd minute after French flanker Marius Audemar Ghion was sent to the sin bin for cynical play. Wales went to the line-out 5m out and a move straight from the training ground saw captain Cloke dart around the front of the lineout to force the ball down.
Wales were gifted a try when Nathanaël Senga Kouo made a mess of a bouncing ball on his own try line and Williams pounced to score his second of the afternoon.
France right wing Elijah Elder Lozano then finished off a dazzling counter-attack from France to bring the score to 15-12 in Wales favour.
However, a perfectly executed set piece just before halftime saw Cloke grab his second try to give Wales an encouraging 20-12 lead at the break.
France made changes at the break and Ademar Ghion made immediate amends for his earlier misdemeanour when he waltzed over virtually from the kick-of. Tom Delaalain’s conversion brought France to within a point.
Madoc Evans kept the scoreboard ticking over with an easy penalty to give Wales a 23-19 lead after 41mins.
France regained the lead with a punishing breakout. No 8 Bambo Sambou burst through a gap and offloaded to supporting scrum half Valentin Bouju who scampered home. Delalain’s conversion put France 26-23 ahead after 44mins.
Evans slotted his second penalty to lock the scores at 26-26 before Wales regained the lead in the 55th minute. France threw long from a line-out near their own try line and replacement hooker Hall surged forward and was awarded they try under a pile of bodies.
France then responded by going coast to coast to put Cleo Bard over in the corner. Delalain’s conversion put the home side back ahead at 33-31 and left Wales chasing the game.
Unfortunately they were unable to reduce the arrears to leave Wales agonisingly short of pulling off a great escape on French soil.
