Fabulous Baker try wins it for Wales
An interception try from 50 metres out by man of the match Dan Baker carried Wales to a hard-fought 30-23 win over Italy in the Under 20 Six Nations Championship.
Another full-house at Eirias, Colwyn Bay, willed Wales on to a second successive success in north Wales, but the near 6,000 crowd had to wait until five minutes before the end before Ospreys No 8 Baker nipped in to steal an Italian pass on half-way and sprint to the posts for the match-winning score.
It took Wales an hour before they hit the front in a game in which the tough scrummaging Italian pack caused all sorts of bother for the home side. Twice the visitors crossed the Welsh try line in a first-half that saw them lead 17-13 at the break.
Wales had a try from outstanding Scarlets prop Rob Evans in the first-half and the reliable boot of Ospreys outside half Sam Davies kept them in touch playing into the strong wind. Davies kicked a conversion and two penalties in the first-half and then
Cut the gap to a single point early in the second half with another penalty.
But the Italians, despite playing on the back foot as the home pressure increased, kept their noses in front as Davies’ opposite number John Apperley added to his two conversions and penalty in the first half to make it 20-16 and keep their dreams alive of stealing a priceless away triumph.
But some great handling by 17-year-old Dragons centre Jack Dixon released Bridgend and Ospreys wing Luke Morgan to sprint clear for a try which Scarlets full back Jordan Williams improved to give Wales the lead for the first time at 23-20. Apperley levelled matters with another penalty before his pass was intercepted by the rampaging Baker.
His unopposed sprint to the line put Wales back ahead and Williams added the conversion to make victory safe.
Wales: Tries: Rob Evans, Luke Morgan, Dan Baker; Cons: Jordan Williams 2, Sam Davies; Pens: Sam Davies 3
Italy: Tries: Guido Calabrese, Vittorio Marazzi; Cons: Michael Odiete, John Apperley; Pens: John Apperley 3
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