Scannell conversion gets U20s off the hook

Italy U20 25 Ireland U20 25

At one stage Ireland trailed by 15 points in and seemed poised for a first loss to the Italians at this level. But second-half tries from Leinster’s Jerry Sexton and Ulster’s Rory Scholes rescued Ireland as Italy came desperately close to their first win of the competition in Avezzano.

The home side crossed the Irish try-line three times in a poor first half and again just after the restart, but Scholes’ late score and a splendid conversion from Rory Scannell gave Ireland the draw they barely deserved.

The early signs were not positive as Tizano Pasquali crossed in the fourth minute for Italy. It got even worse for Mike Ruddock’s side three minutes later when Michele Campagnaro waltzed over to give the home side a 12-0 lead. Padovani added a penalty to his earlier conversion as Ireland looked about to end their Six Nations campaign with three away defeats to add to their home wins over England and France. But credit the young Irish side, as they managed to drag themselves back into the encounter after being battered for the opening quarter, and when Daniel Panter — an early replacement for the injured Tom Daly — dotted down in the 27th minute they were right back in the tie.

Scannell added the difficult conversion from the touchline to make it 15-7 and after Giovanni Benvenuti crossed for the Italians, the Munster youngster reduced the deficit again with a well-struck penalty, which sent the Italians in at the break with a 20-10 lead. David Odiete then bagged Italy’s fourth try, but crucially Padovani missed the tricky conversion, but his side still held a 25-10 lead.

But that would prove to be Italy’s last score and just short of the hour Sexton emerged from the bottom of a powerful driving maul to score. Scannell added a penalty and the comeback was complete when he then converted Scholes’ try.

Scorers for Italy: Tries: T Pasquali, M Campagnaro, G Benvenuti, D Odiete. Con: E Padovani. Pen: E Padovani .

Scorers for Ireland: Tries: D Panter, J Sexton, R Scholes. Cons: R Scannell 2. Pens: R Scannell 2.

ITALY U20: A Esposito; D M Odiete, M Campagnaro, A Bettin, F Guarducci; E Padovani, M Violi; L Scarsini, A Moriconi, T Pasquali; A Zdrilich, M Andreotti; A Trotta, V Marazzi, M Mbanda’.

IRELAND U20: D Leader (Galwegians); D Sweetnam (UCC), T Daly (Lansdowne), R Scannell (Dolphin), R Scholes (Belfast Harlequins); S Crosbie (Old Belvedere), L McGrath (UCD) (capt); P Dooley (Lansdowne), J Andrew (Ballymena), R Furniss (Worcester), S McCarthy (Shannon), J Donnan (Ballynahinch), C Joyce (Malone), J van der Flier (UCD), R Murphy (Dolphin).