Trio help Welsh U20s to success over Italy

By Steve Grace
20/6/21

Exeter Chiefs trio Daffyd Jenkins, Dan John and Oli Burrows helped Wales Under-20s kick- off their Six Nations campaign in style with a 25-8 victory against Italy at the Cardiff Arms Park.

All three players - part of the club’s Academy set-up - featured in a dominant win for the Welsh, many of whom had not played for the past 16 months.

Fly-half Sam Costelow led the way for the Welsh, kicking 18 points on the day.

Solid in defence, dangerous in attack and a wholehearted team display proved to be the perfect recipe for Ioan Cunningham’s men.

Wales started the game with some defending to do, they were courageous and organised in defence which was the perfect balance to hold off their opponents. In Particular, Harri Deaves of the Ospreys showed his class with some clever defensive work which won Wales a couple of penalties that consequently allowed them to clear their lines.

The openside also put in a series of big tackles and took a quality high ball in the opening stages. After tempers flared, there was a long video check which resulted in both teams losing a player for ten minutes.

Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli yellow carded both Wales prop Garyn Phillips and Italian No.8 Lorenzo Cannone. In the 15th minute, Italy opened the scoring off the back of a penalty.

It was a well-worked try off a close-range lineout. With Wales expecting a driving maul, Italy’s prop Ion Neculai took the ball direct and crashed over to give Italy a five point lead.

Wales hit back almost immediately with a penalty try after their lineout drive was illegally brought down by the Italians who lost another to bin. Wales then extended their lead to 10-5 with Sam Costelow slotting over from close-range.

On the stroke of halftime, Wales went further ahead through the boot of the promising Costelow to take a 13-5 lead into the break. Having initially penalised Wales, the referee reversed his decision and issued a yellow card to Italian centre Filippo Drago for bad language.

The first half was a stop-start but passionate showing, with 22 penalties and four yellow cards, three of which were for Italy. Wales opened their second half account once again through the polished boot of Costelow, this increased their lead to 11 points.

Two minutes later, there was yet another card. This time it was the turn of Wales’s Harry Deaves who was carded for preventing a quick Italy penalty.

The Azzurri then opted to go for goal to reduce the gap to eight points. For the fourth time in succession, Wales added to their tally through the lethal boot of Costelow, this time a pinpoint drop-goal.

In the 68th minute, it turned into a kicking masterclass from the quality Costelow who once again converted a penalty to take Wales’ lead to 22-8.

You’ve guessed it, going into the final ten minutes, Costelow struck yet another penalty over the posts to give Wales a solid 17 point lead as the game entered the home straight.