U20s go down fighting in 11-try thriller
UNDER-20 CHAMPIONSHIP
IRELAND 38
WALES 41
By DAIRE WALSH
THERE was agony at Donnybrook last night for the Ireland U20s – who came out on the wrong side of an 11-try thriller against their Welsh counterparts in the U20 Six Nations Championship.
Tommy Rogers and Max Williams crossed over for Wales inside the opening 10 minutes before Ireland opened their account through a Harry Byrne penalty. James Botham crashed over for the visitors again but Angus Curtis’ powerful converted drive over the whitewash reduced their deficit to nine points (19-10) at for the interval. Tommy Reffell and Botham tries – either side of a Jack O’Sullivan five-pointer – kept Wales ahead.
However, Ireland hit back with another touchdown by UCC’s O’Sullivan to cut the gap down to seven points, before Welsh centre Callum Carson restored order with a superb effort.
A 72nd-minute Evans penalty offered Wales some breathing space after Stewart had claimed Ireland’s fourth try, before a Tommy O’Brien score earned Ireland two bonus points.
IRELAND: M Silvester; T O’Brien, J Hume, A Curtis, J McCarthy; H Byrne, J Stewart; J Duggan, R Kelleher, J Aungier, C Daly, J Dunne, S Masterson, M Agnew, J O’Sullivan.
Replacements: C Ryan for Daly (30), A Kernohan for McCarthy (67), C Dean for Byrne, J French for Duggan, T O’Toole for Aungier, R Foley for Masterson (all 72), H O’Sullivan for Hume (73), D Barron for Kelleher (76).
Scorers – Tries: J O’Sullivan 2, A Curtis, J Stewart, T O’Brien. Cons: H Byrne 4, J Stewart. Pen: H Byrne
WALES: C Evans; J Goodchild, C Carson, M Llewellyn, T Rogers; B Jones, H Morgan; J Reynolds, I Harris, R Henry, O Lloyd, M Williams, T Reffell, J Botham, T Basham.
Replacements: R Carre for Reynolds, K Mathias for Henry (both 48), D Lake for Harris, M Morris for Botham, D Babos for Morgan (all 62), D Smith for Goodchild (65), B Thomas for Rogers (67), J Pope for Lloyd (76).
Scorers – Tries: T Refill 2, T Rogers, M Williams, J Botham, C Carson. Cons: C Evans 4. Pen: C Evans
Referee: S Grove-White (Scotland).