Wales U19 Coach, Ian Jones, was delighted by the second half rally which saw the young dragons recover from 25-3 to 25-8 and score a very good try near the end of the game. Turnovers and dropped passes had been instrumental in Wales U19 going behind at the interval. It was centre Isaia Toeava who took advantage of Welsh largesse by racing in for a try as well as kicking two penalties and two conversions for a personal fifteen point tally.
Wales U19’s only answer to a pushover try, credited to prop Scott Murphy and another close range effort from No.8 Charles O’Connell, was a penalty by Blues fly-half Gareth Williams-Davies. Wales U19 had lost twice before to New Zealand U19 in the IRB U19 World Championships 25-0 in the 1999 final and 36-8 in a 3rd/4th place play-off in 2000 and it looked as if the young dragons were heading for a decisive third defeat when they trailed 25-3 the break.
Particularly so as Wales U19’s outstanding forward, Blues lock Bradley Davies had to go off injured, but with the scrum very solid and the discipline much improved, Wales U19Â took it to the Baby Blacks. Blues prop Rhys Gill was to the fore, Dragons centre Tom Cheeseman impressed in all areas and it was the New Zealanders that had to put in the big tackles. It was nip and tuck all the way and Wales U19 rightly had the last say when good continuity left the captain and centre Jon Spratt (Ospreys) the room to squeeze through for a richly deserved Welsh try.
