Scarlets Academy Prop Rhodri Jones was in the starting line-up for what proved to be a tough challenge for Wales from their first round opponents, with fellow Scarlets Academy players Gareth Davies (scrum-half), and Scott Williams (centre) both coming off the bench early in the second half to create impact. The Wales U20 Squad also includes promising Scarlets youngsters Joel Galley (lock) and Steven Shingler (fly-half).

Wales had to dig deep to get their IRB Junior World Championship 2010 campaign off to a winning start, needing Ashley Beck's try 10 minutes from time to see off the physical challenge of Samoa in their Pool A match at the Club Atletico Estudiantes in Paraná on Saturday. ?

Samoa outscored Wales by two tries to one and could have ended much closer had Patrick Fa'apale not missed three penalties and two conversions in the first half and Karl Maleilegaoi not pushed another penalty wide after the break.

By contrast, Welsh outside half Matthew Jarvis was on top form with the boot and landed six successive kicks before finally missing with an 84th minute penalty when the game was won.

Two Jarvis penalties gave Wales a 6-0 lead before No 8 Toby Faletau picked up a yellow card. While he was on the sidelines the Samoan’s conjured up with first try through wing Lole Tualaulelei.

A third Jarvis penalty extend the Welsh lead to 9-5, but Samoan coach Ofisa Tonu’u, the former Newport scrum half, had plenty to celebrate on the stroke of half-time when prop Joe Sililoto crossed for a second try to give his side a 10-9 lead.

The game hung in the balance throughout the third quarter with Jarvis making it 12-10 before Fa'apale finally found his range to give Samoa a 13-12 advantage. With 30 minutes left to play the Welsh needed something special and Jarvis stroked over his fifth penalty before Beck’s try a few minutes later created a vital nine-point cushion.

Jarvis’ conversion took his match tally to 17 points and Wales coach Phil Davies will be hoping he can maintain his impressive strike rate when his side face Fiji at the same venue on Wednesday and then complete their Pool assignments against New Zealand on 13 June.

Wales Under 20 v Samoa

15   Dan Fish, 14  Kristian Phillips, 13  Owen Williams, 12   Ashley Beck, 11   Adam Hughes, 10   Matthew Jarvis, 9      Rhys Downes, 1  Dan Watchurst (captain), 2  Rhys Williams, 3 Rhodri Jones, 4 Lloyd Peers, 5 James Thomas, 6          James King, 7 Rhys Jenkins, 8 Toby Faletau

REPLACEMENTS Gareth Davies came on for Downes at 52 minutes and Scott Williams for Hughes at 42 minutes.