IRELAND U20s 36 ENGLAND U20s 24
It's a back-to-back Six Nations Grand Slam for the Irish U20s after they ran out 12-point winners over England at Musgrave Park.
The win in Cork capped a brilliant weekend for Irish rugby after Andy Farrell's senior side claimed their Slam when defeating the English at the Aviva Stadium.
A brace of tries from Brian Gleeson and Hugh Gavin, along with key scores George Hadden and Fintan Gunne, was the platform that saw Richie Murphy's outfit make it five wins from five.
England's cause was not helped with a red card and a yellow in the second period.
Ireland's first try came on four minutes. Hugh Gavin crosses in the corner after Ireland put together a number of phases. Great patience shown by the team as they sucked in the English defence.
The visitors, however hit back just after the quarter hour, as they worked a lineout maul and from the first phase. Monty Bradbury popped to Tobias Elliott who ran in under the posts.
Gavin was again central as the Ireland got back in front on 27 minutes. He won a penalty. the kick was to the corner. Lineout was won and Brian Gleeson was at the back of the maul to crash over the line. Good response to a brief spell of English pressure. Sam Prendergast converted and it was 12-7 at the break.
The lead was extended on 51. Ireland worked a powerful lineout maul towards the English line and prop George Hadden got the touchdown.
U20S GRAND SLAM CHAMPIONS! 🏆#FutureIsGreen | @PwCIreland pic.twitter.com/G2wy1ZcHTQ
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) March 19, 2023
With England now down to 13, the Irish forwards bashed their way through, with Gleeson barging over for his second try. Conversion was missed.
On the hour, after both sides spill the ball close to the line, it's recycled and Gavin gets on the end of Prendergast's cross kick to dot down for Ireland to lead 31-10.
The visitors did replay when replacement Joe Jenkins runs a great line off Ma'asi-White's shoulder and touches down under the posts. Then Tobias Elliott worked the phases and he touched down in the corner. Sam Worsley converts from the sideline and it's was a one-score game - 31-24.
However, with a minute left Fintan Gunne clinched it for Ireland. They won a restart and recycled the ball up to the England line, where the scrum-half spotted a gap and dove for the line to put the seal on another great day for Irish rugby.
Ireland: H McErlean (A Osborne 52-60); J Nicholson (Osborne 60), H Cooney, J Devine (H West 67), H Gavin; S Prendergast, F Gunne (O Cawley 79); G Hadden (G Morris 67), G McCarthy (capt) (D Sheahan 79), P McCarthy (F Barrett 67); D Mangan (J Hopes 70), C O'Tighearnaigh; J McNabney, R Quinn (L Molony 63), B Gleeson.
England: S Harris (S Worsley 67); C Cleaves, R Ma'asi-White (J Jenkins 55), J Woodward, T Elliott; M Bradbury, C Bracken (B Thomas 67); A McArthur (A Opoku-Fordjour 54), F Theobald-Thomas (N Jibulu 54), A Fasogbon (T Hoyt 54); D Eite (R Carmichael 67), L Chessum; F Carnduff (T Woodman 60), G Fisilau, C Cunningham-South.
Referee: AJ Jacobs (South Africa)
