Scotland suffered an opening day defeat in the U20s Six Nations as Wales ran out 37-29 winners in a close fought battle in Colwyn Bay.

Kenny Murray’s side had plenty to be happy about but a yellow card for Alex O’Driscoll with 10 to go while they were in front left them with a lot of work to do and Wales took full advantage of it to get themselves the victory in an entertaining affair in North Wales.

Wales thought they had taken the lead after five minutes when Harri Ackerman got himself over the line but a TMO review saw it disallowed when Ieuan Davies had played the ball forward in the build-up to the try.

It was an early escape for Scotland and it seemed to get them growing in confidence and they scored a tremendous try on 10 minutes with an excellent drive from the forwards to take the team forward 22 metres and hooker Elliot Young managed to get the ball grounded.

Harry Wilde brought it back to 5-3 with a penalty before Huw Anderson put Wales in front after a great bit of play and the full back got over the try line to make it 8-5 and Wilde couldn’t add the extras.

Scotland’s ability in the maul was showing and they got a second try through Freddie Douglas after another brilliant drive from a lineout to push themselves over in a very end to end game and Isaac Coates hit the post when attempting to add the extras.

It was an excellent game with both sides attacking brilliantly and Walker Price was the next over the line to put Wales back in front after a bit of quick-thinking from Davies to take a quick penalty and it was then fired wide to Price who got over the try line.

And a third try then came Wales way after some more fast attacking play and Morgan Morse continued the form he’s shown in the URC for Ospreys by getting himself on the scoresheet, with Wilde adding the extras at the third time of asking to give the hosts a 10 point lead.

It didn’t last long as Young got his second try of the night after Fergus Watson dragged Scotland forward with a superb run before it was eventually worked over the line by the hooker with Coates making it a one score game with a conversion.

The second half continued the way the first half left off and Kerr Yule got Scotland’s fourth try of the night and gave them a bonus point but it started with more good work from Young and eventually it ended up with the centre going over the line under the posts and Coates had a simple kick to give Kenny Murray’s side a bonus point.

The scoring did slow down and it became more of a battle on the pitch with both sides giving as good as they got. And Wales got themselves a bonus point to go back in front and Ackerman, who was denied a try by the TMO in the first half, got himself on the board after a great line break and although he was almost held up, the Wales captain managed to get the ball down and put his side back in front with 20 minutes left.

There was another brilliant response from Scotland though as Douglas got his second try of the night as he just got over the line, much to the frustration of the home support who booed the replays on the big screen.

Scotland couldn’t take control though and Wales were looking to get back in front and a bit of backchat from O’Driscoll gave the home side an extra 10 yards and the replacement was then shown a yellow card and Scotland to finish the game with 14 because of a deliberate knock on.

It was a disappointing moment for Scotland after a largely impressive performance and the debutant looked frustrated with himself as he made his way off the pitch. And Wales took advantage almost immediately as Price went over the line in the corner to put themselves back in front with less than 10 to go.

And the victory was sealed when Rhodri Lewis got over the line after a delightful kick through and Scotland couldn’t deal with it and although Harri Ford couldn’t add the extras they held on for the win.

Wales: Morris (Chapman, 55), H Thomas (Wood, 62), Hire (Scott 44), Green, N Thomas (Beddall, 48), O Thomas, De La Rua, Morse, Davies (Lewis, 63), Wilde (Ford, 70), Price, Ackerman, Hennesey (Page, 73), Rees-Weldon, Anderson

Tries: Anderson 18, Price 28, 71, Morse 33, Ackerman 61, Lewis 77

Conversions: Wilde 33, Ford 72

Penalties: Wilde 13

Scotland: Deans (O’Driscoll, 53), Young (Blyth-Lafferty, 50), Currie (Whitefield, 78), McVie, Hart, McConnell, Douglas (Job, 73), Currie (Morris, 2), Lock, Coates, Caqusau, Yule, Gwynn, Johnston, Watson (Davey, 72)

Tries: Young 10, 35, Douglas 24, 65, Yule 44

Conversions: Coates 35, 44

Penalties:

Yellow: O’Driscoll, 70