A first-half brace from Owen Lane helped Wales Under-20s to a 29-22 victory over Scotland at the Brewery Field today.
The wing was one of seven Cardiff Blues youngsters in the starting line-up and he displayed his potential in difficult conditions.
Jason Strange’s young side led 15-8 at the interval and further tries from Reuben Morgan-Williams and Phil Jones.
The home side capitalised on their early territorial dominance with an Owen Lane try in the corner in the sixth minute, the wing showing the sort of sharpness that served him well on the World Sevens Series this season. Fly-half Arwel Robinson added the two points with an excellent touchline conversion. 7-0.
Robson's next kick at goal was somewhat easier for the young Dragon, Scotland infringing in front of their own posts to concede three points from the fly-half's boot. 10-0.
Lane's second try came just after the end of the first quarter as he powered his way down the right wing and through a host of Scottish defenders for a good solo effort. The conversion missed, Wales now led 15-0.
The visitors narrowed that lead with under 10 minutes left in the first half as hooker Robbie Smith piled over for an unconverted try in one of Scotland's rare forays into the home 22 in the first half. 15-5.
A minute before the half-time whistle blew, Wales were penalised for an uncharacteristic error in attack, allowing Scotland fly-half Blair Kinghorn to strike a booming penalty between the posts and put a converted score between the two sides. 15-8.
Kinghorn again found himself on the scoresheet eight minutes into the second half, this time with a try after Wales first turned over, then conceded possession to Scotland on the home 5m line. The fly-half converted his own effort to level the scores. 15-15.
Almost on the hour, scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams - among a raft of second-half replacements for Wales - made a sudden impact, sliding across the wet turf for a try under the posts. Replacement fly-half Ben Jones converted to regain the seven-point buffer. 22-15.
As the 70th minute approached, Ben Jones put in a wonderful looping pass out wide to his Phil for a well-worked try. The former then showed skill with the boot to convert from the touchline. 29-15.
Scotland gave Wales a scare as the match neared its conclusion when Ben Appleson put in a kick-and-chase down the left wing for a terrific try. As it happened, fullback Josh Henderson's conversion was the last act of the match.
Wales can now head into the World Rugby U20 Championship in Georgia later this month with a physical match under their belts.