James Hook was the pivotal man for Wales Under-21s as his 80th-minute try ensured that Wales recorded a 14-13 victory over Ireland in their Under-21 6 Nations Championship clash in Dubarry Park tonight.
Fresh from kicking 14 points and setting up all four of Wales' tries in their defeat of Scotland last time out, Neath fly half Hook slalomed over to strike the defining blow in a 14-13 defeat of Ireland.
Still, Chris Davey's Dragons were given a scare by the battling Irish, who broke loose in the fourth minute of injury-time to score their only try.
Replacement Jonathan Sexton converted full-back Fionn Carr's score, but it was the last act of a titanic struggle at Dubarry Park.
The Irish endured a nightmare start when French referee Jean Pierre Mathieu sent lock Daniel Touhy to the sin-bin for a ruck stamp after only three minutes.
The hosts regrouped however, and went in front on 11 minutes when fly half Conan Doyle was successful with his second penalty shot at the posts.
Intense Welsh pressure followed as the visitors took a stranglehold on possession and their speedy wide men - Chris Czekaj and Darren Daniel – came into their own.
Hook drew a drop goal attempt wide on 23 minutes before his sweet midfield pick-up and pass sent Daniel haring down the right touchline. Carr however, held firm when one on one.
Just five minutes later, a lineout take and maul saw Welsh lock Alun Wyn Jones muscle over for a try. Hook converted from out on the right for a 7-3 lead.
Wales then ended the half down to 13 men when Mathieu binned lock Dominic Day and prop Phil Osborne in quick succession for ruck offences at the end of the first half.
Doyle converted an injury-time penalty after Osborne was found guilty of killing the ball to reduce the gap to one at the break.
The score remained at 7-6, with both defences water-tight, right until the death. Hook, who shaved a 76th-minute penalty attempt off the post, motioned for replacement scrum half Liam Davies to swing play out to the left wing and Wales had enough numbers, with flanker Rhys Shellard showing great hands, to break loose and score.
Fittingly, teenage centre Darren Cave, who emerged with much credit, darted up the other end to send Carr crashing over, but it was too little, too late for Ireland.
