Ireland Under-20s Keep On Track For Silverware

The Ireland Under-20s scored 17 points in a fantastic opening quarter-hour as they got the better of their Welsh counterparts at Dubarry Park, maintaining their position at the top of the RBS Under-20 6 Nations table with just one round of matches remaining.

RBS UNDER-20 6 NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Friday, March 12

IRELAND UNDER-20s 24 WALES UNDER-20s 17, Dubarry Park

Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Niall Annett, Patrick Butler, Eoin Griffin; Cons: James McKinney 3; Pen: James McKinney
Wales: Tries: Dan Fish 2, James Loxton; Con: Dean Gunter

Allen Clarke’s charges stayed on course for a shot at the Triple Crown and Championship title next week, following a well-earned win over Wales at Dubarry Park.

The Athlone venue, with vocal backing from both the home and visiting supporters, was rocking as early as the first minute as Irish hooker Niall Annett burst through for an opportunist try.

James McKinney kicked off for Ireland, Wales fielded and the ball was fed back to out-half Matthew Jarvis, but he laboured with his clearance kick, Annett blocked it down and did very well to ground the bobbling ball before it made it over the end-line. 5-0 after just 19 seconds.

It was a nightmare start for the Welsh and they struggled to recover as Ireland ruthlessly took their chances, moving 17-0 up inside the opening 15 minutes.

McKinney, who had a fine night with the boot, brilliantly converted Annett’s score and the Queen’s University clubman added a well-struck penalty from just inside the Welsh half.

Ireland pounced for their second try when a deft pass from McKinney sent powerful lock David O’Callaghan bursting past two tacklers in midfield and his looped delivery on the 22 gave supporting number 8 Patrick Butler a clear run to the line.

Butler soared high in the lineout all night and was part of a impressive back row unit, alongside the hard-tackling Dominic Ryan and ever ready captain Rhys Ruddock.

McKinney landed the conversion and Wales were forced into some immediate changes, as prop Simon Gardiner and lock Lloyd Peers were replaced after clashing heads in the build-up to Butler’s try.

The visitors enjoyed their first decent piece of territory at the midpoint of the half, as skipper Josh Navidi and centre Ben John carried well.

But they were repelled and the Irish pack dominated for the remainder of the first half, towards the end of which Wales lost replacement James Thomas to the sin-bin for a high tackle on the advancing Nevin Spence.

However, Ireland, with their scrum and lineout solid throughout, could not convert their scoring chances before the break – lock Ben Marshall going closest – and they remained 17-0 ahead for the interval.

The home side also lost in-form winger Darren Hudson to a shoulder injury, with Eoin Griffin coming on in his place.

Things got sticky for Clarke’s youngsters in the early stages of the second half though, with Welsh full-back Dan Fish grabbing two quick-fire tries.

Kristian Phillips created the first with a fleet-footed 46th minute break. Debutant winger Tiernan O’Halloran did well to haul him down close to the Irish line, but a well-timed offload sent the supporting Fish over and in behind the posts.

Dean Gunter, who came on for Jarvis, tagged on the conversion, but Ireland’s response was almost immediate as a chip through from McKinney was dotted down in the right corner by the industrious Griffin.

McKinney increased his influence on proceedings with a textbook conversion from close to the right touchline, leaving it 24-7.

But despite some impressive surges from the likes of Butler, Brendan Macken and Andrew Conway, Ireland were kept on the defensive for the closing 30 minutes and Wales managed to close the gap to seven points in injury-time.

Fish turned on the afterburners in the 53rd minute to race over in the left corner, with his pace exposing a gap between Griffin and Macken.

Gunter missed the conversion and he also knocked a late conversion attempt off the post, after winger James Loxton had applied enough downward pressure as he scrambled over the Irish line, with O’Halloran and Conway close at hand.

But their exploits during a one-sided first half were enough to keep Ireland on the winning trail. And although their chief rivals England enjoyed a 27-6 victory over Scotland at Firhill Arena, Clarke’s side will be favourites to lift the trophy after next weekend’s final games.

England, who are level on six points with Ireland, have to travel to France in the fifth round. They have a points differential of +39, but Ireland are on +56. The current table toppers entertain Scotland next Friday in the Championship decider at Dubarry Park (kick-off 7.35pm).

IRELAND U-20: Andrew Conway (Blackrock College/Leinster); Darren Hudson (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Brendan Macken (Blackrock/Leinster), Nevin Spence (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Tiernan O’Halloran (Galwegians/Connacht); James McKinney (Queen’s University/Ulster), John Cooney (UCD/Leinster); Jack O’Connell (Lansdowne/Leinster), Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Stewart Maguire (Old Belvedere/Leinster), David O’Callaghan (UCC/Munster), Ben Marshall (UCD/Leinster), Rhys Ruddock (UCD/Leinster) (capt), Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Patrick Butler (Shannon/Munster).

Replacements used: Eoin Griffin (Corinthians/Connacht) for Hudson (18 mins), Bryan Cagney (UCC/Munster) for Maguire (56), Michael Heaney (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) for Cooney (72), Risteard Byrne (UCD/Leinster) for Annett, Brian Hayes (Cork Constitution/Munster) for (both 76), Robin O’Sullivan (Bective Rangers/Leinster) for Ryan (78). Not used: Gareth Quinn McDonogh (Shannon/Munster).

WALES U-20: Dan Fish (Cardiff Blues); Kristian Phillips (Ospreys), Ben John (Ospreys), Scott Williams (Scarlets), James Loxton (Cardiff Blues); Matthew Jarvis (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets); Dan Watchurst (Newport Gwent Dragons), Rhys Williams (Cardiff Blues), Simon Gardiner (Scarlets), Lloyd Peers (Ospreys), Macauley Cook (Cardiff Blues), Morgan Allen (Pontypool), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues) (capt), Toby Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements used: James Thomas (Newport Gwent Dragons) for Peers (15 mins), Trystan Davies (Scarlets) for Gardiner (16), Dean Gunter (Cardiff Blues) for Jarvis (45), Rhys Downes (Cardiff Blues) for G Davies (63), Rhys Jenkins (Newport Gwent Dragons) for Allen (70). Not used: Ieuan Davies (Glamorgan Wanderers), Edward Siggery (Llandovery).

Referee: Laurent Cardona (France)