Wales U20 crush Scottish counterparts

Having been beaten 17-15 on the opening day last weekend, Dai Rees’s side were clearly in the mood to make amends for the defeat. Once Blues wing Tom James had given them a second minute lead, courtesy of an unconverted try, the game was as good as over.

A driving line out four minutes later yielded a second try – centre Gareth Maule, back in international action after breaking a leg in October, barged his way through a pair of flimsy tackles five metres out to score at the posts.

With only one of the Scottish side having experienced rugby at senior provincial level Wales found precious few problems in achieving domination. They rucked well, enjoyed total control at the set piece and with the exception of a penalty, which Cameron Ferguson converted after twelve minutes, they did not look like conceding.

Rhys Priestland helped himself to a third try after charging down an attempted clearance. Although Lou Reed was yellow carded for persistent infringement, after twenty-five minutes replacement Rhys Jones increased his side’s advantage with a penalty eight minutes before the interval.

Alec Jenkins raced on to a precise chip kick from Priestland to score a fourth try three minutes later and after a typically incisive break from scrum half Robert Lewis, James Harris found himself on the end of an inch perfect try scoring pass.

Jones converted both tries and though Scotland reduced the arrears with an unconverted try from Fraser McKenzie four minutes after half time, Ashley Smith bagged a fifth try which Jones improved and No.8 Lewis Evans added a sixth after picking up from the base of a five metre scrum.

Wales brought up their half century of points when Rhys Jones latched onto a hack ahead from Smith to touch down in the left corner and though the Sale Sharks outside half failed with the ensuing conversion, Wales rounded off a decent night with a ninth try from James.

U21 Six Nations 2007 (U20)

Scotland 8 Wales 56

Scotland:
Try: McKenzie
Penalty: Ferguson

Wales:
Tries: James (2), Maule, Priestland, Jenkins, Harris, Smith, Evans, Jones
Conversions: Priestland, Jones (3)
Penalty: Jones