Ian Golden at The Wern, Merthyr Tydfil. Photo by Captured by Kate. 

Wales U17 played a near perfect second half to beat Scotland 50-28.

It was just the second game ever played by Wales at U17 level, the first being a narrow post-Covid defeat against England, played so U16 players could still get international experience, so this was the first time that Wales have run a full U17 programme,

Both sides were giving 11 players their first taste of international rugby league, and the closeness of the first half showed how the sides were evenly matched.

Wales took the lead in the third minute when Zach Robbins ran over. Matthew Clatworthy converted before adding a try of his own.

Scotland hit back with a Declan Smith try on 14 minutes, after being awarded consecutive six-agains, with Ollie Watkins-Smith going over for their second from kick-off. Tom Glover converted both to give Scotland a 12-10 lead.

Tries from Ben Foskett and Robbins, the latter converted by Clatworthy, to put Wales into a 20-12 lead but a Glover try and goal gave Scotland hope before the break.

Two breakaway tries from Evan Benjamin and one from Caltworthy, who converted all three, increased Wales' lead early in the second half.

An unconverted Joseph Davies try for Scotland brought the score back to 38-22, before Benjamin scored with ease to complete his hat-trick and win him player of the match. Clatworthy converted. An Elliot Williams try and Benjamin goal brought up the half century.

But the final say went to Scotland as Finaley Stamford fought his way under the sticks in the final play of the match with Glover adding the goal.

Wales
Ronan Parry, Ben Foskett, Evan Benjamin, Finley Bosanko-Sheady, Elliot Williams, Matthew Clatworthy, Ruben Main, Eddie Ashman, Zach Robbins, Will Dawkins, Joseff Keating, Calum Woolfe, Ali Al Jassem.
Interchanges: Charlie Burrows, Lewis Mathias, Keilan Harris, Harry Price, Nathan Lee, Finley Hook, Jayden Coxe. 

Tries: Zach Robbins (3, 34), Matthew Clatworthy (8, 51), Ben Foskett (28), Evan Benjamin (43, 46, 70), Elliott Williams (71)
Goals: Matthew Clatworthy 6/8, Evan Benjamin 1/1

Scotland
Joseph Davies, Kian Westhead, Torren Butters-McNaught, Harrison Forsythe, Joseph Wands-Szaranek, Finley Cannon, Tom Glover, Jake Hodge, Logan Marsh, Lawrence Candler, Archie Turriff, Declan Smith, Max Blackie.
Interchanges: Finlay Stamford, Cairn Marshall, Ross Hutchison, Rowan Doyle, Oliver Watkins-Smith.

Tries: Declan Smith (14), Oliver Watkins-Smith (17), Tom Glover (40), Joseph Davies (63), Finlay Stamford (80)
Goals: Tom Glover 4/5