WALES U20 20 ENGLAND U20 26

LIKE the seniors, Wales Under-20s made a losing start to the Six Nations, but there’s little doubt who will have been happier in defeat.

While Warren Gatland is wearing a face like thunder at the national Vale of Glamorgan HQ this week, Darren Edwards will be preparing for the trip to Scotland on the back of an encouraging display.

Sure, nobody likes to lose, but his young guns showed oodles of character to fight back against a strong England side to go agonisingly close to snatching it.

The English frequently bully their rivals at age grade level, yet on Saturday they were more than matched for physicality by their Welsh counterparts.

Captain and lock Macauley Cook led from the front, while the front row did well against imposing opponents, notably the impressive Bath-bound loosehead Mako Vunipola – the cousin of Dragons star Toby Faletau, who spent much of his youth in Wales.

Edwards asked his young charges to set a benchmark and they didn’t disappoint the head coach. “In the first half we looked like a team that had only just got together, but the boys really gelled and were thinking on their feet,” he said. “I think we have set ourselves a high standard. We were playing against a very good, well-organised England side and our players responded well.

“It was a frantic couple of minutes at the end and it would have been something special if we had pinched it but it’s really good to have a platform like this to launch from.

“It is important we improve on that performance, I have got no doubt if we do that then we will challenge Scotland.

“Rugby is all about getting on the front foot, so we need to make sure we do that in Scotland because we have shown we have got some dangerous players.”

It was an enjoyable game at Parc y Scarlets with both sides playing some attractive rugby. There was an intriguing battle of the tens with Wales’ lively Matthew Morgan up against England’s sprightly George Ford.

Ford, the 17-year-old son of England defence coach Mike, had the better ball to work off in the first half with plenty of options on either shoulder.

Yet it was some Morgan magic that provided the first score, the Swansea fly-half jinking then sprinting his way out of the 22 before chipping ahead for centre Ben John.

The Ospreys man was dragged down short but flanker Ed Siggery was on hand to barge over.

But it didn’t take England long to fight back and the visitors headed into the break 26-13 up. Wing Joe Elliot, flanker Matt Kvesic (2) and number eight Alex Gray went over with Ford knocking over three conversions.

Morgan gave Wales hope with a pair of penalties but they desperately needed to find the first score after the break.

Strangely it didn’t come for some time as both defences got their acts together and it looked like England would safely close the game out. But Wales number eight Ben Thomas barged over from a scrum with four minutes left and the hosts laid siege to the English line. However, a couple of crucial lineout steals meant Wales start with a defeat, albeit a brave one.

Wales Under-20s: L Williams, H Robinson, B John, J Gadd (O Williams 47), E Walker, M Morgan, J Evans, R Jones (R Evans 78), K Myhill (S Parry 65), W Taylor, M Cook (captain), M Screech (C Hill 47), E Siggery, C Thomas (L Hamilton 60), B Thomas.

Scorers: Tries – E Siggery, Ben Thomas; conversions – M Morgan (2); penalties – M Morgan (2).

England scorers: Tries – J Elliott, Kvesic (2), A Gray; conversions – G Ford (3).