Bowe the hero after fightback

Under-21 International... Ireland 21 England 20: Queen's full back Tommy Bowe scored a dramatic, late injury-time try as Ireland fought back from 20-6 down to claim victory over their English counterparts.

Ireland took the lead on seven minutes with a Michael Rainey penalty after England strayed offside on the 22. England drew level four minutes later with a penalty from full back Ed Thrower as Ireland failed to stay on their feet.

Thrower gave the visitors the lead on 17 minutes as Ireland were again penalised at the ruck. Ireland should have got the game's opening try on 23 minutes after the pack won a ball on England's throw. The forwards drove deep into the visitors' 22 and the ball was spun wide, but the Irish backs failed to hold.

England got the first try on 26 minutes from a scrum. James Scraysbrook dropped the ball, but was able to pick up. He took it 10 yards before feeding Warren Spragg who put winger James Bailey over to score. Thrower added the conversion.

English prop Peter Cook was sin-binned on 34 minutes after a fracas in the front row, but Ireland were unable to take advantage. Rainey missed another penalty on the stroke of half-time to leave the visitors leading 13-3 at the interval.

Rainey did cut England's lead three minutes into the second half with a penalty from on the 22. However, Rainey was again off target four minutes later as England conceded for holding on in the tackle.

England got their second try as the home defence went to sleep. Bailey popped the ball to Spencer Davey and he had enough pace and power to score from the 22. Thrower added the conversion.

But the comeback began on 68 minutes. Ireland kicked a penalty into the corner. Stephen Keogh caught and drove, the ball was worked out to Rainey who fed Keith Matthews. The subsequent pass was a bit high, but John Hearty was able to take it above his head and score.

Rainey added the conversion from a tight angle, although the ball hit the post and bar on the way over. The Glasgow Hawks outhalf added another penalty five minutes later to cut England's lead to just four points and Thrower missed a penalty on 76 minutes. Rainey missed the chance to cut the gap to a point as he put a penalty wide with a minute left before Bowe's superb try.

SCORING SEQUENCE: Ireland: 7: M Rainey pen, 3-0; 11: E Thrower pen, 3-3; 17: E Thrower pen, 3-6; 26: J Bailey try, E Thrower con 3-13; 43: M Rainey pen, 6-13; 61: S Davey try, E Thrower con, 6-20; 68: J Hearty try, M Rainey con, 13-20; 73: M Rainey pen, 16-20; 81: T Bowe try, 21-20.

IRELAND: T Bowe (QUB); R Lane (UCC), B Murphy (UL Bohemian), K Matthews (UL Bohemian), John Hearty (Blackrock); M Rainey (Glasgow Hawks), F O'Loughlin (Shannon); J Lyne (Lansdowne), R Best (Belfast Harlequins), D Fitzpatrick (Belfast Harlequins), D Gannon (UCD), S O'Connor (Cork Constution), C Potts (St Mary's), N Ronan (Lansdowne), S Keogh (UCC, capt).

ENGLAND: E Thrower; J Bailey, H Barett, S Davey, C Mayor; W Spragg, P Hodgson; P Cook, A Kyricou, M Holford, G Parling, C Day, B Woods, J Scaysbrook, Magus Hand.

Referee: S Mancini (Italy).