Wales Under-20s failed to get their Six Nations off to a flying start in Colwyn Bay after succumbing to an impressive Italy side losing 17-7.
Italy produced a threatening start after gifting Wales the kick-off, despite the visitors winning the coin toss, but it didn't take long for Wales to open their account. Just four minutes in, fly-half Sam Costelow sprinted to score beneath the posts via an Aneurin Owen pass, with Costelow then converting his own try.
Italy - featuring Wales-born scrum-half Stephen Varney - soon responded and put Wales' defence through their paces, with their efforts finally materialising with Matteo Drudi powering over after 27 phases. A missed conversion for Italy followed.
Wales were penalised for offside and the Azzurri opted for goal, Paolo Garbisi's boots giving the visitors a one-point lead at 7-8.
Led by Jac Morgan, Wales would have been happy with just a single-point difference at the halfway mark, but Italy capitalised on their chances early on in the second to cause the hosts a real headache.
Paolo Garbisi kicked his second penalty right at the start of the second half, before striking again just minutes later to put Wales in hot water.
Another penalty saw Garbisi put Italy 10 points ahead at 55 minutes, with unforced errors and slow reaction to Italy moving the ball doing them no favours.
Wing Dan John may have had a chance to race in and score at 59 minutes but a pass to him was too high.
Wales U20s coach Gareth Williams would have been thankful when Garbisi was off target with a penalty, before Mattia Ferrarin stepped in and also missed another.
Wales managed to rally and put a stop to any further points in the dying minutes at Stadium Zip World, ending their Six Nations opener with a 7-17 defeat to Italy.
