England find space to thwart brave Irish effort

Schools Rugby/Six Nations Tournament/England 23 Ireland 12: Ireland narrowly lost to England in the final of the Schools Six…

Schools Rugby/Six Nations Tournament/England 23 Ireland 12:Ireland narrowly lost to England in the final of the Schools Six Nations in Glasgow. England went ahead in the 13th minute through a penalty from Rob Miller but the Irish pack got on top and grabbed their first try through scrumhalf Matthew Healy. Ian Madigan missed the conversion as Ireland led 5-3 at the break.

England took the lead with a 42nd-minute penalty from Miller. Their backs then made use of the space they were afforded and scored two more tries, both converted.

Ireland reduced the arrears to eight points after a lineout attack saw captain Peter O'Mahony cross for a try in the 76th minute. Replacement Ronan O'Mahony added the extras. England had the final say with a Miller penalty.

IRELAND U-18 SCHOOLS: David Kearney (Clongowes Wood College); Robert Johnson (Blackrock College), Richard Reaney (Royal School Armagh), Shane Gahan (Gonzaga College), Andrew Burke (Crescent CC); Ian Madigan (Blackrock College), Matthew Healy (Gonzaga College); Patrick McAllister (Royal School Armagh), Peter Kelleher (PBC Cork), Adam Macklin (Methodist College Belfast); James Sandford (Royal School Armagh), Stephen Mahony (St Michael's College); Alex Byrne (St Michael's College), Brian O'Hara (PBC Cork), Peter O'Mahony (PBC Cork, capt). Replacements: Thomas Sexton (Belvedere College), Nermin Lovic (Belvedere College), Felix Ross (King's Hospital), Patrick McGowan (Ballymena Academy), Sam Bell (Methodist College Belfast), Ronan O'Mahony (Castletroy CC), Chris Nolan (CBC Cork), Mark Atkinson (Grosvenor Grammar), Ricky Andrew (Ballymena Academy), Kyle O'Dwyer (CBC Cork), James Ryan (Rockwell College).