Scotland U20 Men win against Ireland to set up Georgia clash

In a performance much improved from the defeat to South Africa, Nairn Moncrieff, Seb Stephen and Oliver Duncan also got on the scoresheet for Kenny Murray’s side, who set up a 9^th place playoff with Georgia. Despite relinquishing a lead which they had held for over an hour, the Scots showed magnificent character to grab victory from the jaws of defeat in what was an enthralling match.

In their change colours, it was Scotland who got on the board first through a sweeping team try finished off by Nairn Moncrieff. From the ruck Kerr Yule took ball in hand as first receiver, before using Matthew Urwin’s decoy run to find his fellow centre Jonny Ventesei. Lurking on the right was Moncrieff, who graciously gathered his Co-Captain’s flat ball before dotting down in the corner. Urwin’s conversion struck the upright and bounced out (5-0, 7 mins).

After scoring early, the Scots quickly looked to consolidate their lead, launching a second assault for the line after two bits of fine defensive work. First, as has become accustomary these days, Freddy Douglas got over the ball at the breakdown to relieve the pressure after several strong Irish phases. Seconds later Matthew Urwin defied the laws of physics to conjure up a 50-22 from what seemed like an impossible angle. A solid lineout saw the Scottish maul motor for the whitewash, allowing Seb Stephen to break away at the back for the score. Urwin’s kick missed the mark for the second time (10-0, 11 mins).

Ireland thought they had responded through Oisin Minogue after Scotland were penalised twice in quick succession. A lineout merely metres from the line saw the back rower hit the turf in the middle of a flurry of bodies. However, after consultation with TMO Aled Griffiths, referee Fillipo Russo ruled the score out for Irish obstruction in the driving maul.

The men in green soon had a carbon copy situation which this time they executed, this time through captain Harry Walker. The Scottish defence had held strong to thwart their opposition, before Reuben Logan was caught offside. Sam Wisniewski booted for the corner, where the ball fell Minogue’s way once more. This time he opted to find the on-rushing Walker- who’s well-timed support line bought himself a walk in. Fly-half Wisniewski’s kick found the posts (10-7, 26 mins).

Despite being somewhat pegged back, Scotland weren’t phased and instead restored their ten point lead through Oliver Duncan. After gaining territory in the midfield, a lung-busting run from Hector Patterson broke the rearguard. As defenders approached, the scrum-half offloaded to Fergus Watson. Evading several green shirts, the Glasgow man popped off an offload to Oliver Duncan to race clear. Urwin converted the extras from a more favourable position (17-7, 30 mins).

Hector Patterson was covering some serious ground. Only a minute after being a key cog in Duncan’s try, he thought he had one of his own after he seared up the right channel to find the line. Unfortunately for him and Scotland, the TMO spotted his right foot drift in to touch on his journey, and the score was chalked off.

Oliver Duncan was also denied his second try of the afternoon five minutes before the interval. After chasing down the ball beyond the try line, Duncan thought he had increased the advantage after a handling error. TMO Aled Griffiths was being kept busy, as he disallowed the try for foul play on covering Irish defender Clark Logan before the grounding. He compounded Duncan’s misery only a few phases after the restart, sending him to the sin-bin pending review for a clear out in the ruck. Despite shaping up with a man less, the Scottish defence remained resolute to head into the interval ten points to the good.

Half-time: Ireland U20 7 – 17 Scotland U20 Men

As the teams emerged for the second half, referee Fillipo Russo confirmed the caution issued to Oliver Duncan would remain at only a yellow card, with half of his sin-bin period remaining.

Ireland came out the traps eager to up the intensity. However, back with a full contingent, Scotland’s defence withstood it with flying colours. Big hits, strong cover and succinct organisation all culminated in the ever-present Freddy Douglas getting his hands on the ball in the breakdown, to his teammates’ roars of approval.

The Scottish line was under siege, with three penalties conceded in quick succession for offside. Seb Stephen was twice caught on the wrong side, with referee Fillipo Russo warning Co-Captain Jonny Ventesei that such infringements wouldn’t continue without punishment. In spite of the Irish possession dominance, they were failiing to make their pressure show on the scoreboard. They tapped and went through Captain Walker, but the ball was lost forward.

Ireland weren’t lying down and got their second score through replacement Luke McLaughlin. After a cagey period where both sides traded mistakes, the Irish had Scotland penned in on the five metre line, where Clark Logan plucked the ball from the bodies and sent it the way of McLaughlin to power through. With fly-half Wisniewski substituted, Daniel Green took over kicking duties to sail one through the sticks and reduce the deficit to a penalty score (17-14, 65 mins).

For the first time in the match, Ireland took the lead with ten minutes to go through winger Paidi Farrell. After phases built up in the centre, the men in green took the quick ball through Logan and shifted the ball wide right. A small series of passes later and Ciaran Mangan fed the waiting Farrell who finished well under intense Scottish pressure. Green made it two kicks from two (17-21, 70 mins).

As the clock ticked towards the red, Scotland were given a final opportunity to steal the win as substitute Jonny Scott was penalised for advancing. Urwin kicked for the corner and from the lineout the ball fell into the arms of Reuben Logan. As he charged for the line, referee Russo blew up for a knock on, but on review the decision was reversed and a scrum was awarded to the light blues.

As Noah Cowan sent the ball into the bodies Scotland launched their final charge for the line after the ball broke out the back of the scrum. This time it bore fruits and victory was snatched at the last. After a succession of Ireland infringements, Scotland seized control and rolled the maul forward. Despite the green wall doing their best to withstand the pressure, Jake Shearer landed the crucial blow to burrow over and find the line, sending the Scottish contingent into raptures. Although Jack Hocking’s conversion was missed, the clock was in the red and the full time whistle was sounded, as Scotland set up a 9^th place playoff against Georgia this Saturday 19 July, kick-off 7.30pm BST (live on RugbyPassTV).

Full-time: Ireland U20 21 – 22 Scotland U20 Men

 Scotland U20 Men: 15. Jack Brown, 14. Nairn Moncrieff (both Edinburgh Rugby), 13. Johnny Ventesei- Co-Captain, 12. Kerr Yule, 11. Fergus Watson, 10. Matthew Urwin (all Glasgow Warriors), 9. Hector Patterson (Edinburgh Rugby); 1. Oliver McKenna (Glasgow Warriors), 2. Seb Stephen (Edinburgh Academical/ Glasgow Warriors), 3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (Edinburgh Rugby), 4. Dylan Cockburn (Melrose RFC), 5. Bart Godsell (Loughborough University), 6. Oliver Duncan,  7. Freddy Douglas- Co-Captain (both Edinburgh Rugby), 8. Reuben Logan (Northampton Saints).

Replacements: 16. Joe Roberts (Glasgow Warriors)(for Stephen, 60 mins), 17. Ben White (Melrose RFC/ Edinburgh Rugby)(for McKenna, 55 mins), 18. Jake Shearer (Glasgow Warriors)(for Blyth-Lafferty, 62 mins), 19. Charlie Moss (Montpellier)(for Cockburn, 55 mins), 20. Mark Fyffe (University of Edinburgh)(for Godsell, 60 mins), 21. Noah Cowan (Brunel University/ Ealing Trailfinders)(for Patterson, 72 mins), 22. Jack Hocking (Unattached)(for Urwin, 78 mins) , 23. Jed Findlay (Exeter Chiefs)(for Moncrieff, 67 mins).

Ireland U20: 15. Daniel Green, 14. Paidi Farrell, 13. Ciaran Mangan, 12. Eoghan Smyth, 11. Gene O’Leary Kareem, 10. Sam Wisniewski,  9. Clark Logan; 1. Alex Usanov, 2. Henry Walker- Captain, 3. Alex Mullan, 4. Mahon Ronan, 5. Conor Kennelly, 6. Michael Foy, 7. Bobby Power, 8. Oisin Minogue.

Replacements: 16. Luke McLaughlin, 17. Paddy Moore, 18. Tom McAllister, 19. Billy Corrigan, 20. Eanna McCarthy, 21. Will Wooton, 22. Jonny Scott, 23. Charlie Molony.

Referee: Fillipo Russo
AR1:  Marcus Playle
AR2: Alex Frasson
TMO: Aled Griffiths

9th Place Play-Off

Scotland v Georgia
Stadio san Michele, Calvisano
Saturday 19 July, 7.30pm BST, live on RugbyPassTV