Under-20s Strike Late To Stun England

Defending Grand Slam champions England suffered their first defeat in the 2009 RBS Under-20 6 Nations Championship in Athlone on Friday as a gritty Ireland side grabbed a stunning, late win thanks to a 45-metre drop goal from Ian madigan.

2009 RBS UNDER-20 6 NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Friday, February 27

IRELAND UNDER-20s 19 ENGLAND UNDER-20s 18, Dubarry Park

Scorers: Ireland: Try: Michael Keating; Con: Ian McKinley; Pens: Ian McKinley 3; Drop: Ian Madigan
England: Tries: Josh Ovens, Will Hurrell, George Lowe; Penalty: Rory Clegg

Ireland (sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers) are now the only unbeaten team left in the RBS Under-20 6 Nations after this dramatic, late win.

Allen Clarke’s side, who finish the Championship with away trips to Scotland (March 13) and Wales (March 20), were outscored by England on try count – three to one – but they showed tremendous belief and determination to snatch this hugely encouraging victory.

Out-half Ian Madigan showed nerves of steel as he boomed a 45-metre drop goal through the uprights in deepest injury-time to break England’s hearts.

Dubarry Park is well-known as something of a fortress for the Irish underage sides in recent years. Indeed, over the past four years, Ireland have been beaten just once in Under-21 and Under-20 internationals at the Athlone venue.

And with impressive individual performances from the likes of Madigan, man-of-the-match Michael Keating and pack heroes Jack McGrath, Rhys Ruddock and Dominic Ryan, Ireland battled hard to maintain their 100% record in 2009.

For the visit of last year’s champions, Clarke made three changes to the team – Matthew Healy came in at scrum half, Ronan O’Mahony took over on the right wing and James Sandford joined Ciaran Ruddock in the second row.

England accounted for Italy (17-0) and Wales (26-18) in their opening games and despite making six team changes from the Welsh game, they took the early initial in front of a vocal Athlone crowd.

Ireland’s defence was rock solid, however, and although England used the lineout time and again to launch attacks, the hosts were able to hold them in check.

That is until the 22nd-minute when Ireland hooker Thomas Sexton failed to connect with his jumper, metres out from the home line, and England profited to put flanker Josh Ovens over for an unconverted try.

Territorially Ireland had struggled in the opening quarter but UCD centre Ian McKinley rallied his team-mates with well-struck penalty goals after 25 and 39 minutes which put the Irish 6-5 ahead at half-time.

Clarke’s youngsters were drawing additional encouragement from the midlands faithful who really got behind the team, right from the off.

McKinley missed his third shot at the posts, early in the second half, and England seized control off the next phase to put Ireland under increased pressure.

Good hands helped England wade forward up the left and Rory Clegg edged the visitors back in front from a subsequent, close range penalty.

It was real nip-and-tuck fare and the English blotted their copybook soon after when their number 8 Chris York was sin-binned for a ruck offence in midfield.

Better followed for this hard-working Irish side when McKinley intercepted a pass in midfield and he set Clontarf flyer Keating off on a blazing 60-metre run right to the left corner.

Keating brilliantly outpaced the cover for a fine try which McKinley converted from the touchline with great aplomb.

The seven-pointer was a just reward for the graft of Peter O’Mahony and his forward colleagues who were more than holding their own against their more experienced opponents.

Unfortunately, an injury brought O’Mahony’s night to a premature end.

England coughed up a penalty in the next minute, infringing at a scrum, and to the delight of the crowd, McKinley, who had an excellent game overall, fired over his fourth successful kick of the night to move Ireland 16-8 ahead.

It was an inspired kick from McKinley who bisected the posts all the way from the halfway line.

With less than 20 minutes remaining, cool heads were required by Ireland but England were able to increase the tempo in attack and find holes in the tiring home defence.

Winger Will Hurrell scorched over on the left for a try which Clegg again failed to convert.

Adding to the tension, Ireland had replacement lock Mark Flanagan sin-binned in the 74th minute for slowing up ruck ball.

England took their cue and struck for a third try, with two minutes of normal time left. Centre George Lowe made it over for a debut score.

Crucially, Clegg’s conversion attempt was wide of the mark and at 18-16 down Ireland could still nick the win.

And that they did. After a series of drives from the Irish pack, Madigan, a member of last year’s squad, stood back in the pocket and landed one of most important kicks of his fledgling career.

Ireland’s defence stood strong in the closing minutes, keeping a desperate England at bay and Dubarry Park erupted in celebration at the final whistle.

IRELAND UNDER-20: David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster); Ronan O’Mahony (Garryowen/Munster), Ian McKinley (UCD/Leinster), Eamonn Sheridan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Michael Keating (Clontarf/Leinster); Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster), Matthew Healy (Lansdowne/Leinster); Paddy McAllister (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Thomas Sexton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Ciaran Ruddock (Neath/Exiles), James Sandford (Queens University/Ulster), Rhys Ruddock (Millfield School/Exiles), Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) (capt).

Replacements used: Jack O’Connell (Lansdowne/Leinster) for McGrath (55 mins), Michael Noone (Seapoint/Leinster) for P O’Mahony (63), Mark Flanagan (UCD/Leinster) for Sandford (70). Not used: David McGregor (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster), Shane Gahan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Gary Foley (Blackrock College/Leinster).

ENGLAND UNDER-20: Greig Tonks (Leicester Tigers); Seb Stegmann (Harlequins), George Lowe (Harlequins), Tom Casson (Saracens), Will Hurrell (Leicester Tigers); Rory Clegg (Newcastle Falcons), Dan White (Leeds Carnegie); Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs), Jamie George (Saracens), Shaun Knight (Gloucester Rugby), James Gaskell (Sale Sharks), Peter Elder (London Wasps), Josh Ovens (Bath Rugby), Calum Clark (Leeds Carnegie) (capt), Chris York (Harlequins).

Replacements used: Bob Baker (London Wasps) for Knight (55 mins), Carl Fearn (Sale Sharks) for Elder (59), Sam Harrison (Leicester Tigers) for White (60), James Short (Saracens) for Hurrell (70). Not used: Arthur Ellis (London Wasps), Tom Sargeant (Harlequins), Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby).

Referee: James Jones (Wales)