The result meant Wales started and finish their campaign in Béziers with wins - their first coming against Australia in the pool stage. In winning today, they also gained vengeance for their U20 Six Nations loss to the Azzurrini earlier this year.

Most pleasingly, Wales were able to achieve dominance over the much-vaunted Italian pack, and their lineout functioned smoothly between hooker Dewi Lake and locks Max Williams and Rhys Davies.

Cai Evans opened the scoring on three minutes when Italy failed to release the man, the fly-half adding three points to the 34 he'd registered across the tournament.

Evans then kicked a penalty for territory in the eighth minute. Wales were held up at their first attempt at goal, but at a follow-up scrum they produced a huge shove which saw the referee play advantage. Scrum-half Harri Morgan played it and passed to Ryan Conbeer, who wasn't going to be stopped from five metres out. Evans converted. 10-0.

Loosehead Rhys Carre was unlucky to be sin-binned on 14 minutes for what was judged to be a high tackle on Italian lock Niccolo Cannone. Italy almost capitalised instantly on the one-man advantage with an attacking 5m lineout, but good pressure from Wales caused them to knock on. Carre's namesake Rhys Davies, on in his place, helped ensure a secure scrum and clearance.

Italy's Giovanni D'Onofrio then did make the overlap in the backs count, the Azzurrini stretching the Welsh defence for the wing to score. Fly-half Antonio Rizzi converted, with Wales now leading by just three points.

The boundlessly energetic Dan Davis struck back for Wales, getting himself into the right position to snipe in for a try, which Evans had little trouble in converting for a 17-7 lead.

Approaching half time, Italy went offside in their 22, and after several warnings for doing so, blindside Lodovico Manni was yellow-carded. Three times Italy were penalised at the scrum on their 5m line, but Wales weren't given a penalty try - although tighthead Michele Mancini Parri was sent to the bin.

At the fourth attempt, however, and on the stroke of half time, Wales were finally awarded the penalty try they craved: 24-7.

Italy were still down to 13 men at the commencement of the second half. The ignominy of receiving a third yellow card - with two of his teammates already off the field - fell to loosehead Danilo Fischetti, who put his knee into the back of a Wales player at a collapsed scrum.

Credit to Italy, they kept Wales scoreless by the time they could return to a more reasonable complement of players, although it meant offering little by way of attack. A series of scrums and static play saw the scoreboard go stale, so up stepped Evans after an hour of play to kick a penalty from a good distance out. 27-7.

Italy got only their second sniff at the Welsh line just after Evans' penalty, but Wales' defence was ready for what was to come from their attacking lineout, and harried it into touch. Italy then won another penalty, and learnt from their previous mistake, rumbling over for a try by replacement front rower Niccolo Taddia.

Try-scorer Dan Davis turned try-assistant near the 70-minute mark, getting past the Italian wing before popping the ball up for Max Llewellyn to score his first try of the tournament. Evans added the extras: 34-7.

Italy received some consolation five minutes from time, replacement prop Guido Romano going over from close range. They threatened to break away again, only for an impressive steal from Ben Thomas (on in midfield) to strip them of the ball and swing the game back Wales' way.

Openside Davis continued his poaching ways, intercepting an Italian pass in midfield to race 50m downfield, only for the proud Italian defence to haul him back short of the line. That move encapsulated the endeavour of both teams, but only one could claim seventh place in the tournament, and that was Wales.