Though both sides had early chances, Scotland were first to take one on the quarter hour mark. Jack Brown hacked on a loose ball and won the race, kicking over once more and diving on it over the line. Matthew Urwin converted from the left. (0-7, 15 mins)

Scotland defended well as Ireland made several breaks in the backs, but it was a carry from the base of a fiver meter scrum from Luke Murphy that brought the sides level. (7-7, 34 mins)

But with the last play of the half, Scotland took the lead once more. Urwin’s boot into the left corner was tidy, and after Ireland tried to run it back Oliver Duncan made the jackal steal at the ruck and Johnny Ventisei ran into right corner. Urwin’s conversion was wide (7-12, 40 mins)

Half time: Ireland U20 7-12 Scotland U20

Scotland continued with a fine try just after half time. Fergus Watson broke up the left to start the attack, and it was finished on the right by Reuben Logan, who cut inside and fought his way over for his first try in a Scotland jersey. Urwin converted. (7-19, 45mins)

But Ireland hit straight back from the kick off. They worked down the left corner and nearly made the line, but a phase later Henry Walker got there. (12-19, 47 mins)

Scotland then scored an opportunistic fourth. When the ball squirted out of a scrum, Duncan grabbed it and offloaded to Logan, who dummied and then found substitute Noah Cowan who was felled just short. But two phases later, Cowan grubbered into the left corner and Logan dived for his second of the afternoon. Isaac Coates nailed a tough touchline conversion. (12-26, 59 mins)

And Duncan then started another try with a rampage up the middle. When he was stopped the ball went out right and Cameron van Wyk wriggled out of the tackle and cantered over. Coates converted again. (12-33, 61 mins)

A sixth was not long in following. Logan broke up the left and could have fought for his hat-trick, but instead passed inside for Cowan who had an easy run in. Coates’ conversion went wide. (12-38, 65 mins)

Ireland were quick in reply as they won a penalty and kicked into the left corner. The driving maul was good and reached the line, with Walker grounding again. (17-38, 67 mins)

The scoring was becoming almost constant, and after Archie McMichael gathered a chip over the top from Ireland, Brown was given a walk in by the backs who passed out to him on the left wing. Coates’ conversion hit the post and came back out. (17-43, 69 mins)

Ireland pulled another score back in the 75th minute as good hands found Gene O’Leary Kareem on the left wing who raced into the corner. (22-43, 75 mins)

And Kareem got another in the left corner when he was found by a looping pass after Scotland had defended several phases on their line. (29-43, 79 mins)

But Scotland weren’t done yet, and Coates’ cross-field kick was grabbed from the air in the left corner by Brown who got his hat-trick. Coates missed the conversion. (29-48, 80 mins)

It rounded off the scoring in Belfast and a solid afternoon’s work for the young Scots.

Full time: Ireland U20 29-48 Scotland U20

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Head Coach Kenny Murray said: “We’re only playing one game in the build up to the Championship, so it was good to see the transfer from the training pitch. There was some good stuff, and a lot to work on as well.

“In the last few years we’ve not beaten Ireland, and we’ve worked hard over the last few years to get to where we are.

“We spoke a lot this week around getting on the front foot early and I thought we did that, and we always planned to use our full squad today and we managed to get all 28 players on the pitch which was great.”