Wales eighth at U20 Championship after Italy loss
Wales finished eighth at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship after losing 31-23 to hosts Italy in their last game.Harri Ford and Francesco Braga exchanged early penalties at the Stadio Mario Battaglini in Rovigo, before Wales scrum-half Sion Davies went over for a converted try.But two quick tries from Nelson Casartelli and Federico Zanandrea put Italy ahead, although Ford trimmed their lead to 15-13 at half-time with his second penalty.Casartelli crossed for his second try early in the second half, but despite having Dan Gemine in the sin bin, Wales managed to earn a penalty shot for Ford to keep Richard Whiffin's side in the game.Two more Braga penalties nudged Italy into a 28-16 lead with 11 minutes remaining, before Wales had Harry Thomas sin-binned and then Evan Minto sent off after receiving a second yellow for a no-arms tackle.Braga's fourth penalty stretched the lead further for Italy, who finished with 13 men on the pitch after late yellow cards for Giacomo Milano and Nicola Bolognini.Aidan Boshoff scored a late consolation try for Wales, converted by Harri Wilde, to give the scoreline a better look.Wales end the tournament having lost to Argentina and France prior to beating Spain in the pool stage. They were beaten by England in the fifth-eighth place play-off.
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