Three tries in the closing seven minutes sealed a superb win for Ireland at Stadio Mario Battaglini in Rovigo to qualify for the second tier in the knockout stages of the Under-20 Junior World Championship next week.
Mike Ruddock’s men hit Scotland for three converted tries in the closing seven minutes to wrap up a superb win as all of the frustrations built up in the losses against England and South Africa were channeled into a storming finish.
It was no more than Ireland deserved after quality performances against England and the Baby Boks yielded nothing.
They will now go into the second tier of the knockout stages next week and are guaranteed to improve on last year’s tournament when they finished ninth.
Ireland led 6-3 at the break and by 9-6 going into the closing stages before they cut loose.
The game turned on a supeb break from Brendan Macken, who put his Blackrock colleague Andrew Conway for his fourth try of the tournament with seven minutes remaining.
Jackson added the points to put ten between them and Ireland then cut loose to seal the win with a flourishing finish.
Ian Henderson set up Luke Marshall with a superb break down the left and this time James McKinney converted having just come on.
And they finished in style with replacements David Doyle and Daniel Qualter combining to send their skipper Niall Annett over for another converted try.
Scotland pulled back a consolation score in the dying moments when Danny Gilmour finished a good move down the left but it was Ireland who were celebrating at the end as they waited to find out who they will face next week in the battle for places five to eight.
Ireland
Tries: Conway, Marshall, Annett
Cons: McKinney (2), Jackson
Pens: Jackson (3)
Scotland
Try: Gilmour
Con: Edwards
Pens: Weir (2)
