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Several players from Aber Valley Wolves rugby league team featured for Wales as they achieved a third-place finish at the Under-19s European Championships in Italy.
Bradley Toy, Billy Walkley, Michael Carter, Dafydd Morgan, Rhys Davies and Scott Pritchard were all in the matchday squad when Wales beat Ukraine 32-7 in the third-place play-off to clinch bronze.
Ukraine took a 1-0 lead after 25 minutes with a Oleksandr Levandovskyi drop goal, but it was Aber Valley’s Pritchard who got Wales onto the scoreboard – diving over for a try in the 32nd minute.
Five minutes later, Wales scored another try through Oscar Fisher to take an 8-1 lead into the break.
Wales scored another try soon into the second half – this time from Mason Phillips – with Wolves’ Walkley scoring the conversion.
Walkley was soon back on the scoreboard, converting a second Phillips try as Wales continued to build their lead.
Another Aber Valley man, Rhys Davies, secured Wales’ fifth try on the hour mark, which Walkley converted to increase the lead to 26-1.
A spirited Ukrainian side fought back however, with Maksym Harmash forcing his way over for a try, which was converted by Oleksandr Formiuk.
Wales restored their lead in the last minute, as Davies ran in for his second try, which was converted by Walkley.
Wales’ tournament in Udine, Italy, began on September 3, playing their six group games on the same day.
A10-0 victory over Serbia got the competition underway for Wales, before tournament hosts Italy were beaten 24-0.
Later that day, Wales beat Ireland 10-6, before a 2-0 defeat to eventual finalists France.
Wales then beat Ukraine 16-0, before falling to England 16-4 to wrap up the group stage.
Wales found themselves in the third-place play-off after a heavy defeat to an emotionally-charged England side on September 6, who were playing days after the loss of their assistant coach Gary McMahon, who died after the group stage games.
England went on to beat France 14-12 in the final, having come back from 8-0 down at half-time.
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