Baby Blacks hold off Welsh battlers
U20S WORLD CUP POOL A
Wales……………… 34pts
Tries: Anderson 11, Hennessey 41, 55, Emanuel 73, Page 78
Conversions: Wilde 55, Ford 73, 78
Penalties: Wilde 21
New Zealand….. 41pts
Tries: Pledger 7, Penalty Try 25, Taele 34, 43, Cribb 51, Tito-Harris 67
Conversions: Simpson 8, 34, 52
Penalties: Simpson 20
New Zealand secured a close opening win – despite a valiant second-half Welsh comeback.
“I’m really happy with our efforts, but there’s a lot to take away, especially in that second half,” said Baby Blacks captain Vernon Bason after this seven-point victory.
“In attack we did well to play our game, but defensively we were poor at times, and we have to give it to the Welsh. They showed real grit for the full 80.”
Wales looked to play wide early on but it was New Zealand on the board first with a great read from scrum-half Dylan Pledger to pick off a pass down the blindside and run it in for the opening try.
Unfortunately for New Zealand, they conceded a coach-killer penalty on the restart. Scrum-half Iuean Davis took the quick tap penalty, which brought his side two metres away from the try-line but was tackled high. From there, some great feet from full-back Huw Anderson allowed him to finish off the try in the corner.
Following the opening tries, the two sides traded penalties as they both opted to take the safer option of points when entering the red zone.
However, things took a poor turn for the Welsh side. New Zealand hooker Bason made a break down the blindside from a line-out and earned good metres, meaning Wales conceded a penalty bringing him down.
New Zealand kicked to the corner and set the driving maul. They were awarded a penalty try, and Osain Thomas was shown yellow for illegally bringing it down.
The Baby Blacks made the most of the man advantage shortly after, with Xavi Taele hitting a great line to finish off a try following a scrum free kick. Wales finished the half well as fly-half Harri Wilde threw a looped pass on a dime out to Macs Page to finish off a try in the corner.
New Zealand started the second period well as player of the match Taele showed his class with a goosestep down the wing and then dived over.
PICTURES: World Rugby
And Wales soon conceded again as they were caught napping at the lineout from some nice ingenuity from New Zealand as Tai Cribb crashed over.
The comeback started as Morgan Morse broke from the base of the scrum, releasing Louie Hennessey, who cut an excellent line to score. However, Morgan Morse was shown yellow shortly after for a tip tackle.
New Zealand capitalised again with a great try as A-One Lolofie set up Xavier Tito-Harris to finish off a blistering break down the wing, showing real flair.
The Welsh were still in the fight and, from a maul, Lucca Setaro put a chip kick in behind, gathered by Steffan Emanuel under the sticks.
Page got Wales’ final try as he battled his way to the line just before full-time.
Ryan Woodman, Wales’ captain, said: “It was a close game, gutted about the end. We wanted the last try but we’re proud of the way we stuck in.”
MATCH STATS…
WAL v NZ
14 Penalties conceded 15
14 Lineouts won 16
5 Lineouts lost 0
6 Scrums won 7
1 Scrums lost 2 2 Sin bin 0
TEAMS
WALES: Anderson 7, Rees-Weldon 6 (Emanuel 61, 7), Page 8, Hennessey 8, Boshoff 6, Wilde 7 (Ford 57, 7), Davies 7 (Setaro 66,7) , J Morse 6 (Morris 74, 5), Young 5 (H Thomas 50, 7), Scott 5 (Hire 50, 5), Green 5 (N Thomas 68,), O Thomas 4, (Beddall 40,), Woodman (c) 7, De La Rua 6, M Morse 8
NEW ZEALAND: Coles 8, Vaenuku 7 (Tito-Harris 47, 6), Tuivailala 6 (Wallace 47,), Taele 9, Solomon 7, Simpson 8 (Grant 62, 5), Pledger 7 (Williams 52, 5), Lee 6 (Avei-Collins 52, 6), Lowe 8, Cribb 6, Jack 7, Allen 6 (Christie 50, 6), Smith 7, Bason 8 (Lolofie 52, 4), Martin 6 (Pole 52, 4)
REFEREE: Morne Ferreira
Star player: Xavi Taele – New Zealand
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