KEIGHLEY Cougars winger Billy Walkley marked his Wales debut with a 22-16 win over Jamaica in midweek, and it is no exaggeration to say the 20-year-old turned the game on its head.

The Caerphilly youngster was playing out of position at full back on Tuesday night and he and his team-mates endured a difficult start in the pouring rain.

Ben Jones-Bishop and Alex Young scored tries to put the visitors 8-0 up inside the first 10 minutes, with Wales also losing York back row Bailey Antrobus to a worrying-looking knee injury.

Kieran Rush extended Jamaica’s lead with a penalty, before record cap holder Rhys Williams and Walkley’s fellow debutant Huw Worthington got John Kear’s side a foothold in the game either side of the break.

Matty Fozard converted the latter try to bring the scores level, then Jamaica lost playmaker Rush to injury.

Yet the Reggae Warriors looked certain to regain their lead when Darius Carter sauntered through.

But Walkley proved to be a stern last line of defence, pulling off a stunning try-saving tackle to deny the Huddersfield Giants man.

Moments later, at the other end, some sensational handling and footwork from the Cougars ace helped put Max Clarke in to score.

That nudged Wales in front for the first time, and they powered on from there, man-of-the-match Gil Dudson and Fozard scoring to give the hosts an unassailable advantage.

Joshua Hudson-Lett’s late converted try was merely a consolation for the Jamaicans and this win for Wales should give them real confidence ahead of next week’s World Cup qualifiers in France.

It was also an important warm-up exercise for Wales, with Tuesday night's game in Neath, remarkably marking their first international game for two years.