Three-try burst ends Irish losing streak

IRELAND U20’s head coach Mike Ruddock saluted an improved defensive display as his side secured their first win in this year’s IRB Junior World Championship with a 30-13 defeat of Scotland in Rovigo onSaturday night.

The Irish conceded 10 tries in their opening two fixtures in Pool C, against England and South Africa, but they proved far more organised and disciplined in defence against the Scots. Indeed, Ruddock’s troops had victory secured with a stunning burst of three tries in the space of five minutes, through winger Andrew Conway, centre Luke Marshall and captain Niall Annett, by the time Scotland managed to break through when Danny Gilmour got over in the dying seconds.

With both sides having lost their opening two games and having no chance of making the semi-finals, the game at the Stadio Mario Battaglini was essentially a straight shoot-out for a place in the play-offs for fifth to eight place.