Wales lose out to Scots Jun 22 2005




Steve Jones, South Wales Echo


Wales U21- 25-43 Scotland U21 Wales' hopes of a top six finish at the Under-21 World Cup came to a shuddering halt in Mendoza, Argentina, last night.

The Six Nations Grand Slam winners looked on course for their third win over Scotland in three months as they built up an early lead.

But the Scots, who lost 24-8 to the young Dragons in a pool match last week, bounced back in spectacular style to secure a comprehensive victory over their injury-ravaged Celtic rivals.

Wales made the best possible start, overhauling Michael Adamson's early penalty to establish a 10-3 lead after 13 minutes thanks to Jamie Roberts' try and five points from the boot of Pontypridd's Dai Flanagan.

Nic de Luca's converted try levelled the scores, before Flanagan's 23rd-minute penalty restored Wales' advantage.

However, it lasted barely a minute as Adamson kicked a penalty and then converted de Luca's second try to put Scotland 20-13 to the good. The Glasgow Hawks outside-half then landed two more penalties either side of half-time, only for a try from wing Richard Fussell to give Wales a glimmer of hope.

Yet it was soon snuffed out as tries from prop Moray Low and wing Ben Addison, both converted by Adamson, plus a dropped-goal from full-back Alan Nash, put the Scots out of sight.

Neath hooker Gerwyn Price's 78th-minute try, converted by replacement full-back Ricky Williams (Newport), gave Wales the final say but by then they were well beaten.

Wales now play England in the seventh-eighth place play-off on Saturday.

This article was posted on 23-Jun-2005, 14:30 by Hugh Barrow.