RUGBY UNDER-20 SIX NATIONS: Ireland 15 England 46HOPEFULLY, THIS is not a portent of things to come today as an England side with a Grand Slam in their sights brushed Ireland aside with a devastating display at Dubarry Park in Athlone last night.
Ireland, without several players due to injuries and Magners League commitments, were always going to face an uphill battle against an English side which has been in devastating form throughout this campaign.
In the end England prevailed by six tries to two as Ireland surrendered their crown.
Ireland were on the backfoot for long periods in the opening half but trailed by just a point approaching half-time, but it all fell apart just before the break.
George Ford extended England’s lead to 14-11 with his third penalty before Ireland got out of jail when a touchjudge spotted flanker Matt Everard offside just before lock Joe Launchbury charged down a clearance from Cathal Marsh to touch down.
But while the score was disallowed Ireland paid the price in stoppage time when scrumhalf Blane McIroy failed to put the ball dead in touch and England countered for centre Ryan Mills to skip through fullback Michael Sherlock for an interval lead of 21-10.
The visitors often spoiled promising moves with poor handling. Winger Jonathan Joseph was guilty when he twice lost control with the defence carved open.
Ireland suffered a grievous blow just before the break when Ryan Mills skipped through for a try which saw them lead 21-10.
Ireland never looked like coming back with man of the match George Ford extending England’s lead with his fourth penalty just after the restart.
Ford, the 18-year old son of former Irish defence coach Mike, was superb at outhalf and dictated the flow of the game as he continues to develop into a real star.
England turned on the style after that to run in four tries in a devastating performance with Mark Kvesic, Mike Haywood, Andy Short and Alex Gray crossing.
Ireland were forced to defend throughout most of the second half but while they conceded half a dozen tries, the rout would have been greater were it not for some heroics on their own line.
There was a glimmer of hope when hooker David Doyle scored in the left corner at the end of a campaign which saw Ireland win two, lose two and draw one.
However, England finished strongly with Gray getting their sixth try right at the death when he dived over in the right corner.
IRELAND: M Sherlock (Clontarf); T O'Halloran (Galwegians), A Kelly (UCD), JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohs), A Boyle (UCD); C Marsh (Dublin University), B McIlroy (Ballymena); J Tracy (UCD), D Doyle (UCD), M Moore (Lansdowne); M Kearney (Clontarf), D Qualter (Buccaneers); S Buckley (Garryowen), A Conneely (Corinthians), J Murphy (Lansdowne). Replacements: T Furlong (Clontarf) for Moore (44 mins), G Quinn McDonagh (Shannon) for Sherlock (45 mins), M Dolan (Corinthians) for McIroy (46 mins), C O'Flaherty (Cork Con) for Qualter (48 mins), C O'Shea (Clontarf) for O'Halloran (53 mins), S Leckey (Glasgow Hawks) for Boyle (70 mins).
ENGLAND: B Ransom; A Short, E Daly, R Mills, J Joseph; G Ford, C Cook; M Vunipola, M Haywood, H Thomas, J Launchbury, C Matthews, M Kvesic, M Everard, A Gray. Replacements: J Elliott for Joseph (33 mins), O Farrell for Mills (44 mins), R Buchanan for Haywood (49 mins), S Jones for Everard (66 mins), W Collier for Vunipola (68 mins), A Lockery for Launchbury (74 mins).
Referee: M Raybal (FFR).
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