UNDER 21: Ireland 36, Wales 38: In a dramatic finish, Welsh outhalf Gavin Henson's last-ditch try, in the fourth minute of injury-time, saved the blushes of his centre Hal Luscombe, who just seconds before looked to have blown a blatant match winning opportunity in an epic U-21 international at Donnybrook on Saturday.
Ian Humphreys struck his fifth penalty to push Ireland out to a 36-33 lead with barely a minute of ordinary time left on the clock. It seemed as though the home side would pull through, thanks to a powerhouse performance from second rows Stephen Keogh and Matt McCullough and flankers Denis Leamy and Neil McMillan.
But that was to reckon without Welsh backline wizardry and Ireland had plenty of warning in the tries from Nicky Jone, Rhys Williams and Liam Roberts that gave the visitors a 20-13 lead at the break.
With their backs stapled to the wall, the Welsh went to their speed men again and Luscombe flashed over the line, one armed raised in celebration, only to knock the ball on in the act of scoring.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6 min: N Jones try 0-5; 11: R Williams try 0-10; 17: I Humphreys penalty 3-10; 24: D Leamy try, B Lynn conversion 10-10; 31: I Humphreys penalty 13-10; 32: L Roberts try, G Henson conversion 13-17; 38: G Henson dr gl 13-20; 49: Penalty try, Henson conversion 13-27; 60: Leamy try, Humphreys conversion 20-27; 63: Humphreys 23-27; 68: Humphreys penalty 26-27; 72: Henson pen 26-30; 74: Henson penalty 26-33; 77: M McPhail try, Humphreys conversion 33-33; 79: Humphreys penalty 36-33; 84: Henson try 36-38.
IRELAND U-21: S Young (Ballymena); M McPhail (UL-Bohemians), B Lynn (St Mary's College), C O'Sullivan (UCC), C McPhillips (St Mary's College); I Humphreys (Dungannon), B O'Riordan (UCD); S Phillips (Saracens), K Corrigan (UCD), B Young (Ballymena), S Keogh (UCC), M McCullough (Ballymena), D Leamy (UCC), R Wilson (Dublin University), N McMillan (Ballymena). Replacement: J Lyne (Lansdowne) for Phillips 60 mins.
WALES U-21: G Swales; L Roberts, M Brayley, H Luscombe, N Jones; G Henson, A Williams; P James, A Matthews, A Jones, D Hudd, B Griffiths, R Williams, R Jones, G Williams. Replacements: A Davidson for Hudd 70 mins; C Jones for James, P John for A Jon es both 76 mins; A Gravell for R Jones 77 mins.
Referee: F Maciellon (France).
Ireland ... 36
Wales ... 38
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