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NEW ZEALAND U20 6 - 9 WALES U20

WALES made history by becoming the first team to defeat New Zealand at under-20 level with a brave 9-6 victory at the Junior World Championship in South Africa today.

It was an astonishing turnaround from last year’s tournament, when they had suffered a record 92-0 drubbing against the ‘Baby Blacks’.

Conditions at Stellenbosch’s Danie Craven Stadium were dreadful with the pitch a muddy morass, Argentina’s 15-3 victory in the opening game of the day having cut it up as the rain belted down.

They were a great leveller but Wales showed amazing resolve and guts, having made 104 tackles to 36 with seven minutes remaining.

Two penalties from right-wing Tom Prydie and one from outside-half Matthew Morgan, to two from Scott Eade, saw them seize top spot in Pool A with a quarter-final place beckoning when they face Samoa next Tuesday.

Wales were forced into a late change when captain Cory Hill withdrew with stomach trouble.

Ospreys lock Rhodri Hughes took over at lock with Dragons’ prospect Ieuan Jones coming on to the bench and hooker Kirby Myhill assuming the captaincy.

Wales should have led at half-time but Morgan was wide with three of his four penalty attempts.

The left-footed Eade had given the ‘Baby Blacks’ a three-point lead in the ninth minute.

But he missed two other attempts as both teams were continually penalised by Australian referee Angus Gardner for sealing off at rucks.

Morgan was off-target twice before finding the target in the 21st minute to square matters.

Wales fell behind in first half injury-time after Blues flanker Luke Hamilton gave an un-necessary penalty away at a ruck 41m out.

It was almost impossible to play running rugby as Wales started the second half strongly with their scrum in the ascendancy and winning some turnovers in the loose.

They nearly got a try after promising centre Jack Dixon was heavily involved in a dangerous attack but left-wing Eli Walker cut back inside and ignored an unmarked team-mate on his outside.

Gardner was playing advantage and went back for a penalty, Wales senior cap Tom Prydie taking over the kicking and hammering it over from long-range to make it 6-6.

He was wide with a second attempt while New Zealand No 8 Jordan Taufua, who was a handful with his powerful drives, crossed but was penalised for a double movement.

Wales scrum-half Tom Habberfield fluffed a clearance and Walker was adjudged, wrongly, to be off-side but Eade failed to punish him and was hauled off seconds later.

Prydie deservedly put Wales in front for the first time with a magnificent penalty after New Zealand collapsed a scrum with 16 minutes remaining.

Substitute Dan Thomas won a vital turnover 3m from his try-line after the Baby Blacks had gone through 18 phases and they held on to the end despite being under the pump.

There was emotional scenes at the end with Wales coach Danny Wilson nearly overcome with pride – understandably so!

Myhill was another who seemed to find it difficult to comprehend as he kept repeating the words: “I can’t believe it.”

But he should and proudly so because this was the most important victory over any New Zealand team since the senior side’s victory at Cardiff Arms Park in 1953.

New Zealand Under-20: M McKenzie; M Proctor, M Hanley (P Ahki 60y, O Peleseuma, J Tofa; S Eade (I West 60), B Hall (capt); O Tu’ungafasi, N Harris, E Sione, J Latta, C Lloyd (N Ross 60), T Manu (JTupou 63), J Taufua H Blake.

Pens: Eade (2)

Wales Under-20: R Jones; T Prydie, C Allen, J Dixon, E Walker; M Morgan, T Habberfield; R Evans, K Myhill (capt), S Lee, R Hughes, M Screech, L Hamilton, D Baker (D Thomas 61), E Jenkins

Pens: Morgan, Prydie (2)