Wales were only seconds away from earning a semi-final berth in the Commonwealth Games but instead suffered heartbreak after Australia went the length of the field to score after the hooter had gone to burgle the game with a last-gasp 21-19 victory.
Winger Luke Morgan, who had already scored a dazzling try in the first half to put Wales 19-7 ahead, got to within inches of scoring a second try in the dying moments. But he was pulled down agonizingly short of the line. As he attempted to reach out and score, he was unable to as an Australian defender played the ball while on the ground.
Inexplicably, Wales were penalised when in fact Australia could well have seen a player yellow carded. With the hooter having already gone, Australia ran the length of the field in the blink of an eye to condemn Wales to a gut wrenching defeat.
“That result still really hurts,” said Williams. “To see how well the boys played with such high intensity and to go so close to getting in to the semis – that really hurts. We wanted to get a medal for Team Wales so much and to come away with nothing – that really sticks.
“It’s a tough one to take, especially as a yellow card should have come out for interference with play.”
If Williams thought his day of drama was over, he was in for another surprise. Having to put the bitter disappointment defeat behind them, Wales brushed aside a strong Kenya side 28-5 to reach the Plate final where they faced arch enemy, England.
Again Wales began brightly and led 15-7 at the break thanks to tries by Lee Williams, Will Harries and Morgan. England clawed their way back to within three points and with a Welsh victory within sight, history repeated itself when England’s Phil Burgess scored after the hooter to leave the Welsh players devastated.
“It is bitterly disappointing to come away with nothing. We were desperate to win a medal not only for Team Wales but for our manager Dai Jenkins and fitness conditioner Wayne Proctor who are both leaving the squad after doing an amazing job with this group of players.
“The boys’ performances were excellent throughout the two days and they did themselves justice against the best sides in the world. Looking back, it’s clearly a case of what might have been.”
Wales Results:
Pool:
Wales 52 Malaysia 0
Wales 29 Papua New Guinea 7
Wales 12 Samoa 19
Quarter final
Wales 19 Australia 21
Plate:
Wales 28 Kenya 5
Plate final:
Wales 15 England 17
