U20 Six Nations: Ireland Stuns England in Bath
In a thrilling match at Bath, Ireland secured a hard-fought victory over England, climbing to second place in the Under-20 Six Nations table. This win marked Ireland's first triumph over England in the Under-20 Six Nations in three years, shattering England's Grand Slam aspirations and significantly enhancing Ireland's title prospects.
The game began with Ireland taking an early lead through Lee Fitzpatrick's try in the 11th minute. However, England responded in the 24th minute when George Pearson crossed the line. As the first half drew to a close, Connor Treacey's try gave England a 14-7 lead, putting them in pole position to potentially top the table.
But Ireland's resilience shone through in the second half. Josh Neill and Daniel Ryan's tries turned the tide, putting Ireland ahead 21-14. Noah Byrne's late score further extended Ireland's lead, making it 28-14 with just 10 minutes to go. Despite Nick Lilley's try for England with nine minutes remaining, Ireland held on to secure a crucial victory.
The drama continued as England pushed for a late consolation try, hoping for a losing and try bonus point. Will Knight thought he had scored, but the television match official intervened, ruling it out due to a forward pass. This decision could have significant implications for the final standings, with England potentially trailing leaders France by as many as six points if the reigning champions beat Italy on Saturday.
England's next challenge awaits in Treviso on Friday, March 6, when they face Italy. Ireland, meanwhile, will host Wales the following day, aiming to maintain their newfound momentum and solidify their position in the title race.
England Team:
- Pater
- Offiah
- Lilley
- Worsnip
- Pearson
- Keylock
- Friday
- Scola
- Staples
- Streeter
- Williams
- Hogg
- Ainsworth-Cave
- Kelly
Replacements:
- Gorleku
- Spencer
- Tonga'uiha
- Williams
- Marsh
- Newman
- Davies
- Knight
Ireland Team:
- Byrne
- Moloney
- Carney
- O'Leary
- Ryan
- Wood
- Barrett
- O'Connell
- Hayes
- Neill
- McGuire
- Finn
- Bishti
- Fitzpatrick
- Doyle
Replacements:
- Handley
- Foley
- McClean
- Walsh
- Blaney
- O'Dwyer
- O'Shea
- O'Sullivan
