The game was the first of two warm up internationals – the other against France at the end of March – before the climax of the season, the Four Home Nations Tournament in Gloucestershire in mid-April. The Welsh starting line-up of five Scarlets, four Blues, three Dragons, and three Ospreys had to withstand a lot of heavy pressure in the opening half but well organised defence and committed tackling kept the Italians to a lone try by hooker Marco Moscado (San Dona)

Penalties by Brynmawr CS fly half David Langdon and Amman Valley CS full back Dan Evans had Wales narrowly ahead 6-5 at the break but it was a very much different Wales in the second half.

Although Italy took the lead with a penalty from fly-half Ricardo Bocchino (Capitalino), replacement half backs Gareth Williams (Colston’s) and Phil Williams (Whitchurch HS) revelled in the increasingly good possession from the line out where locks Haydn Pugh (Coleg Sir Gar) and Jevon Groves (Y Pant CS) were dominant.

With the Welsh loose play matching their effort in the tight, the Coleg Sir Gar pair of bustling centre Rhys Williams and ever present flanker Nicholas Cudd finished off some fine approach work to put Wales 18-8 up.

Wales were now in firm control and the very late Italian try from centre Dan Molinaro (Benevento) took nothing away from a very good Welsh performance.

Italy U18:
Tries: M Moscado, D Molinaro
Pen: R Bocchino

Wales U18:
Tries: R Williams, N Cudd
Con: D Evans
Pens: D Langdon, D Evans

Italy U18 Magri (Coop Noceto); Credo (Conad L’Aquila), Quartaroli (Conad L’Aquila),  Chiesa (Bellabarba Livorno), Molinaro (Antares Benevento); Bocchino (HDI UR Capitolina),  Fiorani (Benetton Treviso); De Marchi, Moscarda (Orved San Donà), Ravalle (Overmach Parma), Giusti (Colleferro Rugby), Amadio (Ruggers Tarvisium),  Maestri  A.(Coop Rugby Noceto), Puliti (URC Tirreno), Favaro (Benetton Treviso)

Wales U-18 Daniel Evans (Amman Valley CS/Scarlets);  Gruff Jones (Wellington College/Scarlets), Rhys Williams (Coleg Sir Gar/Scarlets), Luke Ford (St David’s Coll/Blues), Jason Tovey (Cwmcarn HS/Dragons); David Langdon (Brynmawr CS/Dragons), Rhys Webb (Brynteg CS/Ospreys); Ryan Bevington (Porthcawl CS/Ospreys), Ben Roberts (Brynmawr CS/Dragons), Scott Andrews  (Y Pant CS/Blues), Haydn Pugh (Coleg Sir Gar/Scarlets), Jevon Groves (Y Pant CS/Blues) Nicholas Cudd, (Coleg Sir Gar/Scarlets), Jonathan Jones (Brynteg CS/Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Whitchurch HS/Blues)

Replacements (all used) Leigh Halfpenny (Swansea College/Ospreys), Phil Williams (Whitchurch HS/Blues), Gareth Williams (Colston’s/Blues); Phil Price (Brynteg CS/Ospreys), Pat Palmer (Y Pant CS/Blues), Huw Dowden (Tonyrefail CS/Blues), Kyle Maiden (Brynteg CS/Ospreys)

Referee: M Sclafer (France)
Attendance: 1000
Man of the Match: Gareth Williams