Wales vs Italy

SATURDAY 16 MARCH 2024 | DYDD SADWRN 16 MAWRTH 2024
GUINNESS SIX NATIONS 2024 | WALES V ITALY | CYMRU V YR EIDAL
UNDER U18S
ALL SET FOR
SIX NATIONS
FESTIVALS
Wales U18s men’s and women’s side have
been preparing well for the forthcoming
Six Nations Festivals being staged in
Parma and Colwyn Bay respectively.
WORDS: GRAEME GILLESPIE
ichie Pugh’s men’s side
R
go into the tournament
in Easter having brushed
aside Scotland and
Ireland with convincing displays
while Siwan Lillicrap’s side will head
to Stadiwm CSM on the back of a
48-10 victory against Scotland in a
training game.
Second half tries from Tom Bowen
and Joseff Jones against Ireland
at Terenure College RFC in Dublin
last Sunday ensured the Wales U18
men’s squad head into the U18 Six
Nations Festival full of confidence.
Backing up victory against Scotland
a week earlier at Ystrad Mynach,
Richie Pugh’s side secured a 27-19
triumph with tenacious defence
against a physical Irish side paving
the way to a well-deserved victory.
The match was delicately poised
7-7 at the break with hooker
Ruben Cummings crossing the
white-wash for Wales, with fly half
Carwyn Jones adding the extras.
In an evenly contested affair,
Ireland then regained the lead in
the second half but a converted try
by Bowen and a penalty by Jones
edged Wales back in front 17-14.
The lead changed hands
again when Ireland scored an
unconverted try but Joseff Jones’
converted try put Wales back in
front before Stef Jac Jones sealed
the win with a snap drop goal.
“I’m really pleased for the boys
as it was a real arm wrestle
of a match,” said Pugh.
“It was a scrappy first half from
both teams from set piece but the
second half opened up – they took
an early lead but we found a way to
claw ourselves back in front. The last
10 minutes was a nailbiter where
we managed to secure the win with
a try and drop goal at the end.
“We knew it would be a step up
from last week against Scotland,
especially with the physicality of
the Irish teams. They are also smart
in how they play but I thought our
boys managed the game really well.
UNDER-18
MEN’S
FESTIVAL
FIXTURES
MATCHDAY 1
30.03.24
KO 11:00
Georgia v
Scotland
KO 13:15
Italy v Portugal
KO 15:30
Ireland v France
KO 17:45
England v Wales
MATCHDAY 2
03.04.24
KO 11:00
Wales v Portugal
KO 13:15
Scotland v
England
KO 15:30
Georgia v France
KO 17:45
Italy v Ireland
MATCHDAY 3
07.04.24
KO 11:00
Portugal v Ireland
KO 13:15
France v Wales
KO 15:30
England v Georgia
KO 17:45
Scotland v Italy
68
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