Wales Under 20s had to withstand a spirited challenge from Italy at Cardiff Arms Park before coming away with a hard earned 30-22 victory.
The Italians proved worthy opponents and were still in the game when just 16-15 down in the second half but two tries by Dean Gunter and Dan Fish made the game safe for Phil Davies’s men.
Wales dominated territory and possession in the first half but their domination wasn’t reflected on the scoreboard. Italy had restricted Wales’s lead to 13-6 and made life difficult for the men in red.
Italy continued to frustrate Wales in the second half but any hopes of an upset were kicked into touch with the late double salvo from Gunter and Fish.
Wales fly half Matthew Jarvis and Italian scrum half Albert Chillon traded early penalties as both sides sought to gain the upper hand on a soggy pitch.
In a Welsh backline unchanged from the side that lost against Ireland last weekend, Kristian Phillips was hungry for work from the outset. Every time he got the ball the Italian defence struggled to contain the Ospreys speedster.
On one such foray in the 20th minute Phillips made the initial incision to set up a ruck near the Italian tryline. The ball was flung right where Scott Williams backed himself from 12m out to go over after. Matthew Jarvis slotted the conversion to take Wales 10-3 ahead.
Chillon reduced the arrears with a well struck penalty but Jarvis put Wales seven points ahead with a penalty in the 37th minute. The Ospreys fly half had a chance to further extend the lead but his shot sailed wide as Phil Davies’s side headed down the tunnel with a 13-6 halftime lead.
Williams made a telling break from the restart before Dan Fish combined with James Loxton cut down inches short of the line. Eventually Welsh pressure told as the Italian backline was caught offside. Jarvis stepped up to bang over his third penalty in the 44th minute.
Wales got a wake-up call in the 47th minute when the Italian pack drove en masse from a throw-in close to the line. The ball was carried over the line but the TMO ruled there was no try.
The Italians didn’t come away empty handed as Chillon guided over is third penalty after the Welsh scrum was penalised.
Italy crept back into the match in the 55th minute through Chillon’s boot after Morgan Allen was penalised for a late charge on full back Ruggero Trevisan.
Italy continued to harass Wales and earned another penalty which Chillon smacked over to bring his side within a single point of Wales.
Replacement fly half Dean Gunter rounded off a rare moment of class from the Welsh side in the 68th minute. His conversion put Wales ahead 23-15.
Italy worked their way inches short of the Welsh try line but lost possession. Wales broke out and Fish was sent clear with a delicate James Loxton pass. From 65m out Fish showed Italy a clean pair of heals to score under the posts.
Italy refused to go away and continued to cause Wales a few problems. Replacement prop Ornel Gega used his strength to squeeze over as Italy clawed their way back into the game.
Scorers
Wales: Tries – Williams, Gunter, Fish; Con – Jarvis, Gunter (2); Pens – Jarvis (3)
Italy: Try – Gega; Con – Chillon; Pens – Chillon (5)
