Australia's under-20s have opened their World Rugby U20s Championship account in style with a hard-fought 24-17 win over Wales in Georgia.
Wednesday's game went down to the wire with Queensland flier Izaia Perese scoring the matchwinner in the 78th minute after scores had been locked at 17-17.
Wales drew first blood when Cameron Lewis crossed near the posts, the ensuing conversion giving the Dragons a 7-0 lead.
Strong defence from Australia prevented Wales from extending that margin before Harrison Goddard landed a penalty to make it a four-point game.
A scrum against the feed gave the Australians a golden opportunity deep in Welsh territory and it was Henry Hutchison who scored their first try. Goddard added the extras for a 10-7 half-time lead.
The match tightened up in the second term, with Wales taking 15 minutes to score through Dane Blacker and take a 14-10 lead. Australia responded almost immediately when front-rower Harry Johnson-Holmes scored, dragging two defenders over the line.
The subsequent conversion made it 17-14 and the Welsh were unable to break through. Five-eighth Arwel Robson levelled the scores with three minutes to play before Perese proved the difference.
"The Welsh are very strong side, a good Six Nations team and they have had a big campaign and they were always going to be a big challenge for us," Australia U20s coach Simon Cron said.
"We knew we were going to have to play for 85 minutes and in the end that's what happened.
"I was really happy with the defence, I thought we stood up quite well and I thought overall it was pretty good."
England top Pool A ahead of Australia after their 74-17 thrashing of Samoa, who Cron's side face next on Sunday.
"Samoa are extremely strong and very flexible with quick line speed," Cron said.
"We are going to have to get better than what we were today to push them and I think there are a few of our processes we could get better at."
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