Scarlets Academy flanker Osian Williams insists Wales U20s can take a huge amount of belief into the rest of their Six Nations campaign after coming agonisingly close to a stunning victory over England in the Championship opener in Northampton on Friday night.
In difficult conditions at Franklin’s Gardens, Wales stormed into a 16-0 lead by half-time thanks to a try from Cardiff centre Steffan Emanuel and 11 points from the boot of impressive Scarlets fly-half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones.
However, England battled back in the second period and secured a 19-16 victory courtesy of a close-range try five minutes before the end.
Carmarthen product Williams, who made his senior Scarlets debut this season, was one of the Welsh forwards who went toe to toe with their much-vaunted opponents.
Afterwards he said: “I am proud of how we performed in that first half, but momentum changed, that is international rugby.
“We know we are a good team; we will go back, do our analysis and look to manage the game better and deliver that 80-minute performance against France next weekend.
“We will take a lot of belief into that game after this performance.”
The former Carmarthen Athletic RFC and Haverfordwest High and QE High pupil added: “Personally, it was a really good experience, an emotional day for me and my family.”
A week on from his first United Rugby Championship start for the Scarlets, 18-year-old Leggatt-Jones delivered an accomplished display in the red No. 10 of Wales, while prop Jac Pritchard was part of a powerful scrummaging effort and flanker Dom Kossuth made his mark off the bench.
Next up for Richard Whiffin’s side is a clash with France at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday night (20:00).
On the other side of the globe, Academy speedster Callum Woolley pulled on the Great Britain 7s shirt once again – this time in the fourth leg of the HSBC SVNS series in Perth.
Woolley started the opening match against France, but a hamstring prevented him playing a part for the rest of the tournament.
Elsewhere over the weekend, Llandovery claimed a 33-17 home win over Bridgend in the Super Rygbi Cymru Cup.
The Drovers included Academy prop Josh Morse, hooker Harry Thomas, lock Kai Jones, back-rower Tiaan Sparrow and fly-half Steff Jac Jones in their starting line-up. Prop Tom Phillips came on as a second-half replacement.
Carmarthen Quins were due to take on Pontypool with wing Thomas Williams, scrum-half Rhodri Lewis and hooker Keanu Evans in their match-day 23, but the game was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch at Pontypool Park.
The Scarlets U18s age-grade team completed their WRU Academies Championship group campaign with a 24-12 defeat to the Ospreys at The Gnoll on Sunday. Back-rower Keir Creasy (pictured) and second row Rhys Owen crossed for tries for a reshuffled Scarlets side, who fought back strongly after trailing 17-0 in the first half.
Having finished fourth in the league ladder, they will take on Dragons RFC in a third/fourth place play-off at the Arms Park on Thursday evening (18:00). Unbeaten Cardiff will take on the Ospreys for the title.