Ireland Schools lose way in second half

The Ireland U18 Schools team were defeated by England (30-14) in Saturday’s FIRA/AER European Championship final in Wronki, Poland.

Noel McNamara’s charges were well in contention at the interval, trailing 17-14, with Jack Power and Will Connors crossing for tries and Matthew Gilsenan adding the conversions.

But England took charge on the restart, scoring 13 unanswered points to claim the title — their third consecutive European crown.

Ireland defeated Georgia and France in their two previous matches.

IRELAND U18 SCHOOLS:J Stockdale (Wallace High School/Ulster); J Larmour (St. Andrew’s College/Leinster), J Power (Blackrock College/Leinster), P Kiernan (Presentation Brothers Cork/Munster), C Nash (Crescent College Comprehensive/Munster); M Gilsenan (St. Michael’s College/Leinster), R Osborne (Clongowes Wood College/Leinster); A Porter (St. Andrew’s College/Leinster), J Molony (Clongowes Wood College/Leinster), C O’Donnell (Summerhill College/Connacht), J Ryan (St. Michael’s College/Leinster) (capt), S O’Connor (Rockwell College/Munster), W Connors (Clongowes Wood College/Leinster), J Guy (St. Andrew’s College/Leinster), M Deegan (St. Michael’s College/Leinster).

Replacements: A McMahon (Rockwell College/Munster) for Nash, J O’Brien (Newbridge College/Leinster) for Larmour (both 41 mins), G Jones (St. Andrew’s College/Leinster) for Deegan, H Kean (Blackrock College/Leinster) for Molony (both 58), P Claffey (Garbally College/Connacht) for O’Connor (59), D Duggan (St. Michael’s College/Leinster) for Osborne (63), C Kenny (Garbally College/Connacht) for O’Donnell (66), O O’Meara (St. Michael’s College/Leinster) for Kiernan (70). Not used: C McIlmurray (Campbell College/Ulster), C Mulcahy (Clongowes Wood College/Leinster).

ENGLAND U18 SCHOOLS:T Prell (Giggleswick School/Leeds Carnegie); G Perkins (Oaklands/Saracens), L Slowik (Filton College/Bristol), C Thacker (Leicester Grammar/Leicester Tigers), K Little (Hartpury College/Exeter Chiefs); H Mallinder (Rugby School/Northampton Saints), J Maunder (Blundells School/Exeter Chiefs); L Boyce (Prince Henry’s Grammar/Leeds Carnegie), O Adams (St. Paul’s Catholic College/London Irish), J Ibuanokpe (Dulwich College/Harlequins), S South (Whitgift School/Harlequins), G Nott (King’s School Chester/Sale Sharks), J Batley (Hartpury College/Gloucester), S Underhill (Sir Thomas Rich’s School/Gloucester) (capt), W Safe (Hartpury College/Gloucester).

Replacements: J Marchant (Peter Symonds/Harlequins) for Slowik, R Segun (Stowe School/Northampton Saints) for Little (both half-time), J Bainbridge (Prince Henry’s Grammar/Leeds Carnegie) for South (41 mins), O Hills (Queen Elizabeth Wyggeston College/Leicester Tigers) for Boyce, A Mitchell (Lymm High School/Sale Sharks) for Maunder (both 50), J Stanley (Truro College/Exeter Chiefs) for Ibuanokpe, C Chick (Gosforth Academy/Newcastle Falcons) for Underhill (both 55), J Fish (Trent College/Northampton Saints) for Adams (58).

Referee: Julien Castaignede (France).