There were more than 100 points scored as the West defeated the East 59-50 in tonight’s Wales Under 20 national selection game at the Talbot Athletic Ground, Aberavon.
With coach Phil Davies looking to name his squad in December after a series of coaching sessions at the end of next month, Welsh rugby’s best young players were all on show as the two sides turned the game into a try-fest.
Although the initial points came from a penalty from the Ospreys’ outside half Matthew Jarvis, after that it was nothing short of a five-point extravaganza as both sides played with terrific ambition.
Pontypridd lock McCauley Cook was first on the board as he helped himself to the first of his two tries that handed the East the lead for the first time.
Dean Gunter’s conversion extended the advantage before Ospreys’ star Kristian Phillips, a member of last season’s under 20 side swept in for a try that Jarvis failed to improve.
Llanelli centre Scott Williams, whose midfield partnership with Phillips was particularly impressive, made it 15-7 with his first of the night and after Simon Gardiner had added a third try for the west, after 22 minutes, Williams raced in for his second that Jarvis this time converted.
It was turning into something of a one-sided affair with the West desperate to press home their advantage. However, they did leak a second try, to Cook, that brought the East within 19 points at 31-12. Normal order was resumed shortly after when Ospreys lock Ben Davies rounded off his side’s first half try haul with a wonderful individual effort that Jarvis converted.
Glamorgan Wanderers wing James Loxton finished a sweeping move to give his side some hope before the interval and in stoppage time, the excellent Dan Fish added his name to the list with his side’s fourth try that James Roblin converted.
If there was any doubt about the sides’ ability to continue in a similar attacking vain after the break, there shouldn’t have been.
East lock Rhydian Wilson galloped over for a popular try four minutes into the second half before Ben Thomas with a try and Jarvis with a conversion reduced the deficit once more.
With the game won, the West inexplicably took their foot off the pedal and allowed the East to come back and pinch the lead as the game entered the final stages.
And it was replacement Nicky Williams who proved the difference. The Pontypool wing crossed for a hat-trick of touchdowns inside a dozen minutes with Roblin converting all three to edge the East into a 50-45 lead.
However, determined to finish on a high, the West made sure of the victory spoils courtesy of a tries from Ben John and Lee Rees. Replacement Steve Shingler converted both to confirm victory and leave Davies and his coaching team with plenty to think about.
