Ragged display but Ireland U20s sign off with third victory

Ireland 26 Scotland 18: Despite a ragged performance Ireland signed off on their championship campaign with a win over Scotland thanks to a bit of luck and a dominant second-half.

Nigel Carolan’s men scored four tries, two either side of half-time, to see off a Scotland team severely disrupted by injuries in the second period.

Although handling and decision making was suspect at times, it was the maul was proved particularly useful for Ireland. After a couple of early trundles Ireland capitalised from a penalty kicked to touch midway through the first-half when captain James Ryan peeled off a maul and hared towards the line. The second row was held up just short of the whitewash but before Scotland could regroup hooker Adam McBurney buried his way across. Brett Connon’s conversion gave Ireland a 7-6 lead which they barely deserved after Adam Hastings’ two penalties had put Scotland ahead.