WALES semi-final hopes in the World Rugby U20 Championship were dashed when beaten 34-22 by holders England in Tbilisi.

Jason Strange’s youngsters needed to beat the Six Nations Grand Slam winners in Georgia to stand a chance of making the last four after suffering a defeat to Australia on opening day.

However, they paid the price for a sluggish start and now go into their final group game against Samoa on Thursday looking for a first win and a place in the fifth to eighth-placed play-offs rather than the tussle for ninth to 12th placings.

Wales were close to a dream opening when Cardiff Blues scrum-half Dane Blacker raced English counterpart Harry Randall for a ball hacked to the line only for the TMO to deem that it wasn’t clear who touched the ball down first.

They were denied a seven-pointer but a penalty from the resulting scrum allowed Dragons fly-half Arwel Robson to open the scoring.

However, England got their noses in front in the 11th minute when a patient eight-phase attack ended with some neat offloading for Worcester lock Justin Clegg to barge over.

Saracens’ Max Malins converted and repeated the trick from wide on the left to make it 14-3 when Harlequins wing Gabriel Ibitoye finished another enterprising attack in the 15th minute.

The Welsh scrum was going well but the English were looking more threatening with ball in hand and they got try number three in the 30th minute thanks to wonderful footwork and a slick finish by Ibitoye, Malins making it 21-3 from the touchline.

England stretched further clear through the boot of their fly-half with a penalty that also saw Wales captain and openside Will Jones sin-binned for a cynical breakdown offence.

At 24-3 down, Wales needed to gather their thoughts and they were given that chance when the floodlights at Avchala Stadium failed on 35 minutes.

And after a short delay the 14 men rallied for the final score of the half with Cardiff Blues prop Kieron Assiratti powering over after a clever lineout move from five metres out, Robson’s superb conversion making it 24-10 at the break.

It was just the boost the Welsh youngsters needed and they were on the front foot early in the second half with centre Owen Lane going close with one terrific burst before lock Sean Moore was held up over the line.

The English were under the pump and down to 14 men when prop Ollie Dawe was sin-binned after a series of scrummaging offences. Wales kept the pressure on and it was 24-17 with half an hour left thanks to a penalty try.

Wales suddenly were the better side and wings Ryan Conbeer and Jared Rosser were agonisingly close to crossing for a third try before play swung down the other end for Malins, best player on the park along with Bath number eight Zach Mercer, to miss from the tee.

It remained nip and tuck but England got the crucial next score when replacement scrum-half Alex Mitchell touched the ball at the base of the post after gathering a chip over the top by Malins, who added the extras for 31-17.

The English had their bonus point and Malins stretched their advantage with a smart drop goal before a slick move put Dragons winger Joe Goodchild over with three minute left.

However, the Welsh youngsters’ efforts for a pair of consolation bonuses at the death came up short.

England scorers: tries – J Clegg, G Ibitoye (2), A Mitchell; conversions – M Malins (4); penalty – M Malins; drop goal – M Malins

Wales scorers: tries – K Assiratti, penalty, J Goodchild; conversion – A Robson (plus automatic conversion for penalty try); penalty – A Robson

Day two results: Pool A: Australia 33 Samoa 26, England 34 Wales 22; Pool B: Ireland 28 Scotland 32, New Zealand 68 Italy 26; Pool C: Argentina 25 France 26, South Africa 38 Georgia 14