Wales 24 Argentina 18

WALES Under-21s are poised for a semi-final spot in this year's IRB World Cup following a battling 24-18 win over Argentina at Oxford last night.

Chris Davey's side, who beat Scotland at Henley in their opener last Friday, need a bonus point against current World Cup holders South Africa in Newbury on Saturday in their final pool game to guarantee their path through.

But if Ireland fail to beat Argentina and Canada lose to Scotland, Wales will qualify anyway.

Last night, the Welsh scored three tries over the Argentines.

Cardiff outside-half Nicky Robinson scored 14 of Wales' 24 points but the star of the show was Newport's young prop Rhys Thomas.

Thomas scored a 43rd minute try, his first score for Wales, and was the driving force in the pack.

However, despite their defeat it was Argentina who scored the first points of the game with outside half, Alfredo Cordone sending over a fifth minute penalty.

Robinson responded with a penalty a minute later and after a quarter of an hour Wales scored their first try.

Cordone had his kick charged down by Wales centre David Bishop and the Bridgend man fed Robinson who scored in the corner.

Robinson converted and despite some intense Argentine pressure it was Wales who were next to score.

A flowing three-quarter move resulted in Bishop passing to Swansea winger Jonathan Vaughton to touch down. Argentina did respond with a penalty before the break to reduce the deficit to 17-9.

After half-time Newport's Nathan Brew came on for the injured Vaughton and within a minute Wales scored again.

Bishop beat several men before being tackled on the line but Thomas picked it up and bundled himself over to score his first international try.

Robinson converted to give Wales a 24-9 lead but instead of going for the all important fourth try, which would have resulted in that all-important bonus point, they took their foot off the gas and allowed Argentina back into the game.

Cordone sent over a penalty on the hour and six minutes later he kicked his fourth to reduce the score to 24-15.

Argentina camped inside the Wales 22 for the final ten minutes but resilient defence kept the them out. And despite conceding a last minute penalty Wales held on to win 24-18.