WALES suffered World Rugby U20 Championship agony after being beaten at the death by holders New Zealand.

The Six Nations champions led from the opening stages until 79 minutes, 11 seconds was on the clock before their title hopes extinguished in the cruellest of fashions.

It seemed like they were going to repeat the exploits of the class of 2012 by beating the Baby Blacks only for a penalty at the death by Canterbury centre Jordie Barrett – after a cross-kick was deliberately slapped out by Ospreys wing Tom Williams, an offence that arguably could have been a penalty try – to break their hearts.

Had they beaten the holders at AJ Bell Stadium then they would have been left watching the evening games in the hope of sneaking through to the last four as best runners-up behind Pool A winners Ireland.

In the end Wales are left to rue letting a winning position against the Irish slip through their fingers on opening day and the Grand Slam champions will play for the minor placings for the rest of the tournament.

That they did themselves proud by producing their best display of the tournament, defending with tenacity and scrummaging strongly, will be of little consolation.

Wales enjoyed a dream start and were 8-0 up after 10 minutes thanks to a thumping penalty by Dan Jones and then a try by centre Joe Thomas after his fly-half had put through a neat grubber kick.

New Zealand were rattled, evidenced by the restart going straight into touch with the following scrum seeing the Welsh pack win a penalty that Jones boomed over for 11-0.

The Baby Blacks settled their nerves with a three-pointer from Canterbury centre Jordie Barrett but Wales would have been thrilled with their first quarter… just as they had been against the Irish when 17-0 up on opening day.

The Six Nations champs had to withstand a strong period of pressure and desperately needed to get their hands on the ball and keep it, as a big tackle count against the holders would eventually tell.

Jones made a rare excursion to Kiwi territory count with a penalty to make it 14-3 but the southern hemisphere side struck a telling blow on the stroke of half-time.

They piled on the pressure and, with the clock in the red, reaped the rewards of running a penalty when Wales lock Seb Davies was yellow-carded.

New Zealand were ruthless from the resulting scrum with Northland Sam Nock darting over and Barrett adding the extras to cut it to 14-10.

Wales started the second half strongly and didn’t suffer any more damage while down to 14 and they were to soon benefit from a numerical advantage.

Barrett was sent to think about what he had done after taking out Jones off the ball with the Scarlets man extending Wales’ lead to 17-10 with half an hour left.

The Baby Blacks made light of being a man down to pressurise approaching the hour but got no change out of the Welsh defence, making errors with ball in hand that we don’t usually associate with their nation.

But they strung together a slick attack to move within two points with 59 minutes on the clock, classy full-back Shaun Stevenson sniping over after a patient attack only for Barrett, only just back on, to shank the conversion.

Replacement Billy McBryde was wide with a long-range penalty effort but Wales still held a slender advantage heading into the final 10 minute, could they avoid the ending that the seniors familiarly endure against rivals from the south?

Sadly not. Wales played their best game of the tournament but it wasn’t quite enough.

Wales scorers: try – J Thomas; penalties – D Jones (4)

New Zealand scorers: tries – S Nock, S Stevenson; conversion – J Barrett; penalties – J Barrett (2)

Argus star man: Dillon Lewis