Report: Ireland U20 36-0 Scotland U20

The 36-0 scoreline was perhaps glossed through two tries in the final throes, as Scotland gave a solid account of themselves, particularly in going in at half-time seven points adrift.

In the early stages. Ireland were awarded a penalty and chose to kick to touch, landing position just shy of the five metre line. The hosts took quickfire approach through second row Joe Hopes, who stole in  at the front of the line-out, but it was held up by the visitors’ defence in what would be a theme of the first 40.

The hosts had another opportunity to score when a kick chase got the ball over the line, but Andrew McLean’s superb cover got him to the ball first to ward off a certain try.

The first try of the evening came a quarter of the game in. An attempt by Jack Brown to catch the ball in the air was knocked on into the hands of Ireland forward Sean Edogbo, who made great ground before the ball made its way out to the wing where Hugo McLaughlin dived over. The conversion from Jack Murphy was successful [7-0, 21 mins].

Some terrific defensive work, in particular through Freddy Douglas and Jonny Morris, meant Scotland kept at it and themselves threated to score before the break but nothing stuck, and the sides went in separated by a score.

Half-time: Ireland U20 7-0 Scotland U20

Eight minutes into the second half, Scotland conceded a penalty by collapsing the maul. In need of points having not added to their try in almost half an hour, Murphy successfully took aim at the posts, adding three points. [10-0, 49 mins].

Scotland remained committed to giving the best account of themselves but after multiple phases, Ireland managed to get the breakthrough when captain Evan O’Connell barged over [15-0, 60 mins].

When Monroe Job was swiftly sin-binned for deliberately halting a quick tap penalty, it wasn’t long before Ireland added another try, when a successful line out got the ball into the hands of replacement hooker Danny Sheahan who was at the helm of a heavy driving maul. Murphy’s conversion was good [22-0, 71 mins].

With fatigue a factor on account of such a punishing defensive evening for Scotland, the hosts took full advantage to add two late converted tries, through Edogbo and then Sheahan, to earn a bonus point and give themselves the opportunity to finish as champions later in the evening. [36-0, 80 mins].

Full-time: Ireland U20 36-0 Scotland U20

Ireland U20: 15. Ben O’Connor 14. Finn Treacy 13. Wilhelm de Klerk 12. Hugh Gavin 11. Hugo McLaughlin 10. Jack Murphy 9. Oliver Coffey 1. Alex Usanov 2. Henry Walker 3. Jacob Boyd 4. Joe Hopes 5. Evan O’Connell 6. Sean Edogbo 7. Bryn Ward 8. Luke Murphy

Replacements: 16. Danny Sheahan 17. Ben Howard 18. Patreece Bell 19. Billy Corrigan 20. James McKillop 21. Tadhg Brophy 22. Sean Naughton 23. Davy Colbert.

Scotland U20: 15. Jack Brown 14. Finlay Doyle 13. Johnny Ventisei 12. Findlay Thomson 11. Geordie Gwynn (CC) 10. Andrew McLean 9. Hector Patterson 1. Callum Smyth 2. Jerry Blyth-Lafferty 3. Callum Norrie 4. Euan McVie 5. Ruaraidh Hart (CC) 6. Jonny Morris 7. Freddy Douglas 8. Tom Currie

Replacements: 16. Marcus Brogan (for Blyth-Lafferty, 66 mins) 17. Robbie Deans (for Smyth, 24 mins) 18. Ryan Whitefield (for Norrie, 66 mins) 19. Archie Clarke (for McVie, 60 mins) 20. Monroe Job (for Morris, 60 mins) 21. Eric Davey (for Patterson, 60 mins) 22. Finn Douglas (for Brown, 60 mins) 23. Kerr Yule (for Thomson, 60 mins).

Referee: Takehito Namekawa (JRFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Anthony Woodthorpe (RFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Katsuki Furuse (JRFU)
TMO: Ian Davies (WRU)

Player of the Match: Evan O’Connell (Ireland)