U20 Six Nations round-up: Lloyd leads Wales to victory

Guinness U20 Six Nations
Wales U20 26-13 Scotland U20

Jac Lloyd played a starring role as Wales Under 20s got their Six Nations campaign back on track with a mightily impressive bonus points victory over Scotland in Colwyn Bay.

Byron Hayward’s side were forced to dig deep and didn’t take the lead until the final quarter of a hard-fought encounter. The hosts were unrecognisable from a team which lost heavily in Cork last week with their defence, and their attacking game on a different level.

Wales showed their intent from the very first minute as they attacked from deep inside their own 22 before ending up in the Scotland half. That particular attack came to nothing but they had set their stall out with regards how they want to play.

But their discipline let them down badly with Scotland claiming the games first try when No 8 Matthew Deehan powered over from short range, with Christian Townsend converting.

Scotland held a 7-0 lead at the interval, but Wales were far sharper after the break. Skipper Alex Mann led from the front with an outstanding individual display, and he claimed Wales’ first try. The Cardiff Rugby prospect combined in a one-two with fellow back rower Tom Cowan whose superb offload put Mann over the line.

Jac Lloyd added the extras, but Scotland went further ahead with a long-range penalty from Robin McClintock. But Wales were determined to win this game, and Ospreys centre Joe Hawkins hit a tremendous line for their second try.

Replacement outside-half Dan Edwards converted to put Wales into the lead for the first time in the game.

Wales had the bit between their teeth and an excellent pass from scrum half Morgan Lloyd allowed wing Harri Houston to score at the far right-hand corner.

Wales sealed their victory at the death with Hawkins slicing through the Scotland defence before perfectly executing a sensational offload which resulted in 17-year-old Morgan Morse touching down for the bonus points try.

Guinness U20 Six Nations
Italy U20 6-0 England U20

Deago Bailey and Charlie Rice both featured England U20 were beaten 6-0 by Italy in the second round of the U20 Six Nations Championship in Treviso. 

The visitors were unable to back up their 21-41 win over Scotland in the opening round of the tournament as they were held scoreless at Stadio Comunale di Monigo. 

The hosts got off to a quick start, fly-half Nicolo Teneggi nudging an early penalty over for a 3-0 lead.

Deago Bailey rightly had a try disallowed on the 17-minute mark for crossing, and despite multiple visits to the Azzurri's 22, Alan Dickens' men could not break the blue defence and went in at the break 3-0 down.

Teneggi started the second half just as he did the first, knocking over another penalty, and doubling his side's lead.

Jamie Benson's penalty kick ricocheting off the post at 55 minutes typified England's evening, as they struggled to retain possession, control territory or attack with purpose.

And despite a late English resurgence, Italy's staunch defence remained, as they held on for a deserved win.