Chisom Ugwueru and Hannah Clarke on mark but Ireland no match for five-try England
U-20 Six Nations Women’s Summer Series: England U-20 33, Ireland U-20 10
Despite Chisom Ugwueru and Hannah Clarke grabbing tries in either half, the Ireland U-20 women’s team started their campaign at the inaugural Six Nations Women’s Summer Series with a 23-point defeat to England at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma.
After scrum-half Tori Sellors dotted down with just under two minutes on the clock to offer England a perfect start, Red Roses skipper Lilli Ives Campion confidently added a second try in the 18th minute of the action.
Yet Ireland subsequently came to life at the start of the second quarter as a powerful surge into the opposition ‘22’ by fly-half Kate Flannery provided the platform for Ugwueru (sister of Clare gaelic footballer Ikem Ugwueru) to cross over for an unconverted try to the right of the posts.
While this helped to keep Niamh Briggs’ side within touching distance, additional five-pointers from Reneeqa Bonner and Ives Campion – as well as a third conversion by Lia Green – propelled England towards a convincing 26-5 lead at the interval.
Even though Ireland initially dominated possession during the early stages of the second half, they were struggling to unlock the English defence and ultimately conceded a fifth try on 57 minutes, full-back Green crossing over for a score that she converted herself.
This effectively eliminated any prospect of a dramatic comeback from Ireland, but moments after returning to the field of play in place of Ugwueru, Connacht winger Clarke reacted quickest to an awkward bounce inside the English ’22 and proceeded to bag a hard-earned consolation effort.
SCORERS – England: Tries: L Ives Campion (2), T Sellors, R Bonner, L Green. Cons: L Green (4). Ireland: Tries: C Ugwueru, H Clarke.
ENGLAND: L Green (S Hopkins 68); S Hopkins (M David 54), M Hyett, C Morrall, R Bonner (S Shiels 55); A MacDougall, T Sellors (A Wilkinson 67); C Flanagan (A Williams 54), L Calladine (N Swailes 64), H Sams (K Leat 64); T Shirley (J Battishill 60), L Ives Campion; A Richardson (T Shirley 64), J Bennett, A Meta (E Roberts 51).
IRELAND: R O’Connor; H Clarke (N Gallagher 58), L Linn, E Boylan (E O’Sullivan Sexton 56), C Ugwueru (H Clarke 68); K Flannery, J Gaffney (M Goulding 62); H Wilson (G Burke 56), B Buttimer (K Burke 70), S Barrett (L Morris 64); R Campbell, J Neill; B Heylmann (A Hahessy 56), E Murtagh (C Ní Chonchúbhair 34), I Kiripati (E Murtagh 72).
REF: Berenice Bralley (France)