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(Main) U19 All Black Rodney Ah You evades the Welsh defence in the opening round of the IRB U19 World Championships in Belfast (Thumb) Try scorer Gareth Owen looks for Welsh support
IRB / Huw Evans
Baby Blacks beat Wales
5 April 2007, 8:31 pm
By WRU
Wales conceded six tries to New Zealand as they lost their opening game in the IRB U19 World Championships 37-14 in Belfast.
A hat-trick of tries in the opening twenty minutes by Kiwi centre Robert Fruean put the result beyond doubt, although there was a spirited fightback by Sam Warburton's side as they got to grips with the pace and power of the pre-tournament favourites.

It proved to be an eventful first half for rising Wellington star Fruean as he also picked up a yellow card shortly after spearheading his side into a 17-0 lead. Wales made the most of his absence with a try by Maesteg outside half Gareth Owen, which Leigh Halfpenny converted to cut the gap to ten points.

A penalty just before the break by the New Zealand outside half Trent Renata made it 20-7 at half-time and then left wing Kade Poki raced into the corner for try number four for the young All Blacks. The Welsh response was a stunning try for Bridgend prop Ryan Bevington after a Josh Turnbull interception with Dan Evans knocking over the conversion.

At 25-14 there was just a chance that Wales might spring a surprise, but the men in black ran in two final tries to round off a good evening's work, the last one from replacement Luke Braid while Wales replacement outside half David Langdon was in the sin bin for arguing with the referee.

Scorers:
Wales:
Tries: G Owen, R Bevington. Cons: L Halfpenny, D Evans
New Zealand: Tries: R Fruean (3), K Poki, R Crotti, L Braid. Cons: T Renata, D Kirkpatrick. Pen: T Renata

Wales U19:
Daniel Evans (Llanelli/Scarlets)
Jimmy Norris (Bedwas/Dragons)
Luke Ford (Wanderers/Blues)
Rhys Williams (UWIC/Scarlets)
Leigh Halfpenny (Neath/Ospreys)
Gareth Owen (Maesteg/Ospreys)
Rhys Webb (Bridgend/Ospreys)
Ryan Bevington (Bridgend/Ospreys)
Huw Dowden (Beddau/Blues)
Patrick Palmer (Llantrisant/Blues)
Nathan White (Bridgend/Ospreys)
Josh Turnbull (Llanelli/Scarlets)
Sam Warburton (Capt, Wanderers/Blues)
Nicholas Cudd (Tumble/Scarlets)
Lloyd Phillips (Narberth/Scarlets)

Replacements:
James Egan (Cardiff/Blues) for Halfpenny 48
Jevon Groves (Cardiff /Blues) for Phillips 54
Gareth Williams (Wanderers/Blues) for Webbe 60
David Langdon (Ebbw Vale/Dragons) for Owen 66

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