Ireland denied double by late Saurs try
U19 International friendly
IRELAND U19…………………………….. 08
FRANCE U19………………………………. 12
by Daire Walsh
Valentin Saurs’ 70th minute try broke Irish hearts at Templeville Road, where the hosts were denied back-to-back victories over an imposing French U19 side.
Out-half Josh Bingham had fallen short from a 25th-minute place-kick for a much-changed Ireland, and they were left to rue this missed opportunity when Charlie Cassang’s stoppage-time converted try helped Les Bleus towards a 7-0 interval lead.
Ireland responded with a try of their own from Cian O’Donoghue 12 minutes after the restart, and following a long-range penalty from Cork Constitution’s Tomas Quinlan 58 minutes in, consecutive successes was on the cards for the Green Army.
There was to be a final sting in the tale, though, as full-back Saurs dived over on the left-flank for the resilient French on the stroke of full-time.
Scorers – Ireland Under 19s: C O’Donoghue try, T Quinlan con. France Under 19s: C Cassang, V Saurs try each, L Meret con.
IRELAND UNDER 19: S Fitzgerald; G O’Shea, J Owens, F Cleary, C O’Donoghue; J Bingham, C Young; M Lagan, S Weir, M O’Donnell; C Romaine, J Davidson; M Kelly, C Oliver, R Todd.
Replacements: T Quinlan for Bingham, C Rock for Young (both 51), A Thompson for Romaine, S McMahon for O’Shea (both 54), J Loughman for O’Donnell, L O’Connor for Lagan (57), P O’Toole for Weir (58), S McVeigh for Davidson (66).
FRANCE UNDER 19: V Saurs; S Faconnier, F Fontaine, L Ghirard, L Blanc; L Meret, C Cassang; T Estorge, C Chat, S Courcoul; T Labouteley, F Sanconnie; V Destreuls, L Bachelier, M Devergie.
Replacements: W Ebongue Sipamio for Estorge, A Armary for Sanconnie, B Rousset for Fontaine (all h-t), A Meric Audibert for Cassang (47), Q Lespiaucq Brettes for Chat, H Vaslin for Courcoul, J Delannoy for Destreuls (all 50), Sanconnie for Labouteley (64).
Referee: D Proctor (England).