Scholes snatches glory for Ireland
Tom Daly slotted a difficult conversion to seal the one-point win over 14-man England, but head coach Mike Ruddock was thrilled with his side’s determination to clinch the win late on.
“The boys are singing after that, they are delighted really. It was a hard-earned win,” he said.
“England are normally champions at this age group because they have such depth and such quality. They are a class act and are very hard beaten.”
Ireland had two men yellow-carded in a pulsating second-half, including Robbie Henshaw, but the Athlone man played a critical role in the winning try in a game that saw Ross Moriarty sent off for England.
In search of their third Six Nations title in a row, England U20s looked in determined mood to build on last week’s victory over Scotland and after the concession of a penalty in the first minute, the home side fell behind.
Out-half Henry Slade made no mistake from the right to give the champions a 3-0 lead, but with the English lineout misfiring in the opening exchanges, Mike Ruddock’s side began to find their feet.
Dolphin clubman Rory Scannell was having success in pinning the English deep inside their own territory and after presenting the Irish with the perfect position for a lineout deep in the English 22, the home maul was stopped short of the line in the 27th minute.
However, as captain Luke McGrath battled for the ball at the base of the ensuing ruck, the game was turned on its head, as English flanker Ross Moriarty was deservedly sent off for an horrific dump tackle on the Leinster scrum-half.
Daly slotted the penalty from under the posts to draw Ireland level, but five minutes from half-time Slade kicked two penalties to make it 9-3.
Immediately after the restart Daly slotted his second penalty to reduce the deficit to just three, but England’s territorial ascendancy paid off in the 50th minute when Slade landed his fourth penalty after an infringement just inside the ten-metre line.
After Daly was sin-binned for the home side Slade give the visitors a 15-6 lead, which left Ireland chasing the game, but they suffered a severe blow when hometown hero Henshaw was harshly shown a yellow card on the hour mark when challenging his opposite number Ben Howard for a garryowen.
With Daly in the bin, Rory Scholes slotted a successful first penalty attempt 15 minutes from time and three minutes later Hennessy levelled the game up at 13 men each when Elliot Stooke was binned for the same offence.
After the reintroduction of Day and Henshaw, Ireland set about clawing their way back into the match and four minutes from time a super move involving Henshaw and Daly sent Scholes over on the left.
Daly slotted the difficult conversion to give Ireland the lead and they held on for victory.
Scorers Ireland U20: Tries: R Scholes Cons: T Daly Pens: T Daly (2)
England U20: Pens: H Slade (5)
IRELAND U20: R Henshaw; D Panter, T Daly, M Roche, R Scholes; R Scannell (D Sweetnam 77), L McGrath; P Dooley, G McGuigan (J Andrew 77) , C Taylor (R Furness 38) (A Boland 75); G Thornbury (S McCarthy 13-17 blood), J Donnan (S McCarthy 58); P Timmins (J van der Flier 60), R Murphy, C Joyce.
ENGLAND U20: B Howard; J Arnott, M Jennings, S Hill, H Purdy (T Collins 72); H Slade, A Day (N Fowles 49); D Hobbs-Awoyemi (N Morris h-t), L Cowan-Dickie, S Wilson (D Herriott 74); E Stooke, D Barrow; R Moriarty, J Conlon (H Wells 72), J Clifford.
Referee: Neil Hennessy (WRU).
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