Six Nations Under-21s/Italy - 21 Ireland - 33: Ireland coach Mark McDermott will be unhappy that his side finished here in slapdash fashion.
They led 33-7 with 20 minutes remaining and the expectation was that Ireland would push on and dominate the last quarter. Instead, it was the Italians who finished the stronger, grabbing a brace of converted tries.
The Irish scored three tries through centre Andrew Trimble, full back Mark Kettyle and blindside flanker Brett McNamee. Outhalf and captain Gareth Steenson, contributed four penalties and three conversions.
ITALY: Sepe; Mariani, Patrizio, Pratichetti, Rosa; Rebencchini, Toniolatti; Vinge-Donati, Ghiraldini, Battisti; Reato, Bernabo; Leonardi, Zanni, Barbieri.
IRELAND U-21: M Kettyle (Belfast Harlequins); T Bowe (Belfast Harlequins), T Gleeson (UCC), A Trimble (Ballymena), P McKenzie (Belfast Harlequins); G Steenson (Dungannon, capt), C Willis (UCD); M Diffley (Buccaneers), J Merrigan (Corinthians), J Andress (Belfast Harlequins); L Stevenson (Belfast Harlequins), M Melbourne (Garryowen); B McNamee (Northampton), A Kavanagh (Garryowen), S Ferris (Dungannon). Replacements: S Philpott (Saracens), E Bracken (Buccaneers), T Richardson (Buccaneers), C Henry (Malone), D O'Leary (UCC), B Keeshan (Cork Constitution), K Geraghty (London Irish).
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