WALES got up and running in the World Rugby U20 Championship by romping to a 54-20 win against Samoa in the Tbilisi sun.

After a last-gasp defeat to Australia and 34-22 loss to holders and Six Nations champions England, Jason Strange’s side were desperate to get over the line in their Pool A finale.

They had created plenty of chances in the defeats only to lack a clinical edge but against the Samoans they did a professional job to cross for eight tries at Avchala Stadium in the Georgian capital.

It leaves them waiting on the rest of today’s results to see whether they will play in the play-offs for fifth to eighth place or ninth to 12th.

Whatever happens, they will be keen to build on the performance when taking to the field again on Tuesday.

Once again their scrum was excellent while they caused problems with their driving maul and captain and openside Will Jones led from the front with an excellent breakdown display, winning five turnovers against the powerful Samoans.

Wales were comprehensive victory but narrowly escaped a nightmare start when fly-half Ben Jones’ pass was picked off in midfield by Hunter Paisami only for Owen Lane to have the pace to turn and catch the powerful Melbourne Rebels centre.

Nonetheless, it was a sloppy start by the Welsh youngsters and a holding on penalty then an early tackle allowed full-backRicky Pauli Ene to kick the Samoans into a deserved 6-0 lead after nine minutes.

The Welsh were second best in all facets yet swiftly struck back to lead 7-6 when Dragons wing Jared Rosser showed the pace that earned international 7s selection last season to finish a slick counter, Cardiff Blues fly-half Ben Jones added the extras.

Wales were certainly not having things their own way but knew the importance of a big win, so turned the screw with their formidable scrum for a pushover score by Blues number eight Aled Ward that made it 14-6.

Try number three arrived on the half hour when a penalty was kicked to the corner for Wales to hammer at the line before Cardiff Blues flanker Shane Lewis-Hughes barged over under the sticks, Jones adding the conversion for 21-6.

And the bonus point was secured with the final play of the half when Dragons hooker Owen Hughes, having a strong game after swapping the 16 jersey for 2 with regional teammate Ellis Shipp, hit his man at a lineout and the pack powered over for Pontypridd lock Sean Moore to score.

At 28-6, Strange would have been demanding that his young charges kept the pressure on and they did that at the start of the second half.

Wales went close with a driving lineout – Hughes held up over the line – before Lewis-Hughes was put over for his second from close range by impressive captain and his back row partner Jones.

However, Wales failed to build on the score and a combination of poor defence and good finishing allowed Samoa wing Alexander Pohla to go over down the left with Ene’s touchline conversion making it 33-13.

The Islanders had the wind in their sails as the game entered the final quarter and crossed for a second when prop Setu Enoka barged over from close range.

The conversion made it 33-20 and suddenly, after being in a dominant position, Wales were in danger of slipping to a third loss on the spin.

However, inspirational captain Jones was to the fore for a 71st minute try to settle the nerves, the openside earning a turnover that saw Shipp put scrum-half Dane Blacker under the posts.

Dragons fly-half Arwel Robson added the simple extras for 40-20 and repeated the trick when lock Will Griffiths strolled over from a quick tap by the replacement number 9.

And the final play produced another score when the forwards hammered away at the line before Robson put Dragons teammate Joe Goodchild over down the left wing, the fly-half then brilliantly converting from the touchline.

Wales scorers: tries – J Rosser, A Ward, S Lewis-Hughes (2), S Moore, D Blacker, W Griffiths, J Goodchild; conversions – B Jones (4), A Robson (3)

Samoa scorers: try – A Pohla, S Enoka; conversion – R Enu (2); penalties – R Enu (2)