Wales made a winning start to the beginning of the World Rugby Junior Rugby Championship in Tblisi with a 25-24 victory against Georgia.
Superb defence in the final play of the game, holding up Georgia, earnt Wales the win with Richard Whiffin’s side having been reduced to 13 men.
Tries from Caio James, Rhys Cummings and Carwyn Leggat-Jones helped Wales to victory with the fly-half adding all three conversions and a pair of penalties for a 15-point haul.
Inside the first five minutes, a break from Evan Minto plus a strong carry from fellow Dragon George Tuckley, helped to set up a try for flanker James before winger Cummings danced over.
Georgia returned in kind with three tries of their own, either side of half-time but Leggat-Jones’ score along with a pair of penalties gave Wales a 25-17 lead and they held on despite a penalty try for the host country.
“We knew it was going to be a test up front and the boys dug in,” said Whiffin.
“There’s lots for us to get better at but the pleasing thing from my point of view is that we stuck together, stuck in it and were able to get the win."
Whiffin was full of praise for his side including Dragons pair Tuckley and Minto who both started in the pack against a physical Georgian side.
“George Tuckley gives you a solid set-piece but also his ability with ball movement and to hit hard lines in attack, gives us the ability to get some gainline," said Whiffin.
“Evan Minto is one of the best line runners we’ve got. You can see that with the little miny breaks and he’s good in those channels and he had a good game, running around the field and clocked up eight or nine kilometres.”
Next up Wales face Uruguay on Thursday, once again in the Georgian capital.
