England U-20 33-10 Ireland U-20
Hannah Clarke showed her footballing skills to strike for a closing 70th-minute try as the Ireland Under-20 Women gave a good account of themselves against an experienced England team in Parma.
This was the first international match played by the Ireland U-20 Women, who are coached by 2013 Grand Slam winner Niamh Briggs, and with England being one of the standard bearers at this age-grade, it was always going to a difficult challenge.
The inaugural Women's Six Nations Summer Series kicked off in sweltering Italian heat. Led by two-try captain and player-of-the-match Lilli Ives Campion, England built a 26-5 half-time lead.
UL Bohemian duo Kate Flannery and Chisom Ugwueru combined for a slick 21st-minute score, with the winger, one of three U-23 players permitted in the matchday squad, displaying her Energia All-Ireland League-honed finishing abilities.
Ireland had a number of purple patches in the second half, and the full squad contributed to a fine effort which saw them score through Clarke to cancel out an earlier Lia Green score.
Flannery, Ugwueru, Ruth Campbell, and Ivana Kiripati, who all have experience of the Ireland senior set-up, led by example, and there were bright moments from some of the Under-19-eligible players, including Beth Buttimer, Clarke and Kelly Burke, who won a late turnover penalty.
While disappointed with the lopsided scoreline, the collective performance augurs well for the rest of the tournament which sees Briggs' youngsters play hosts Italy next Tuesday (kick-off 9am Irish time), and Scotland in the final round on Sunday week.
England were quick to profit from Green's 50:22 kick, as Lucy Calladine attacked off the lineout maul and offloaded for scrum half Sellors to crash over inside 80 seconds. Full-back Green swept over the conversion for a 7-0 lead.
Ireland drew encouragement from the next few phases, with Ugwueru swooping on a loose pass. Lucia Linn carried well on the right, breaching the English 22, and Brianna Heylmann agonisingly knocked on when Flannery opened up some space in midfield.
Despite winning turnover ball off a scrum, Ireland lost field position and needed a brilliant tap tackle from Campbell to prevent Sophie Hopkins from scoring. Shortly afterwards, the England winger almost dotted down from Amelia MacDougall's cross-field kick.
With Ireland leaking a scrum penalty in their own 22, England's well-drilled forwards kept the pressure on. A 10-metre maul drove Calladine over, but TMO Giuseppe Vivarini ensured the try was ruled out for obstruction.
However, there was no denying Ives Campion after an Irish lineout had gone out the back. Having earned successive penalties, and from a close-in ruck, the England skipper rumbled over. Green's accurate right boot made it 14-0.
Following a scheduled water break, Ireland began the second quarter in tremendous fashion. Flannery ghosted through a gap on the edge of the English 22, aided by Ellen Boylan's decoy run, and she connected with Ugwueru who handed off Hopkins to touch down.
As England came hunting for a quick response, Clarke made a crucial cover tackle on the advancing Bonner. Campbell's excellent maul defence then led to a turnover, but Ireland were struggling for territory, with a swiftly-taken penalty leading to a fumble.
A rare error from Kiripati saw her lose possession on the half hour mark, and her opposite number Annabel Meta carried well to set up a midfield ruck. Fed on the left wing, Bonner evaded the clutches of both Clarke and Robyn O'Connor to score.
Ireland showed signs of breaking through with some chinks in the English defence. O'Connor and Sophie Barrett, who narrowly missed out on linking up with the supporting Campbell, both gained promising ground.
Frustratingly for the girls in green, Carmela Morrall forced a late penalty at the breakdown, and Ives Campion, picking from a ruck five metres out, surged in under the posts for Green to convert.
Two charge-downs from Heylmann and replacement Clíodhna Ní Chonchobhair lifted Ireland on the resumption, as did the sight of Buttimer slipping through from a ruck to carry deep into the English 22.
Nonetheless, England boxed clever in defence to avoid conceding, and when Briggs' charges came again, Campbell were penalised for obstruction at a maul just a few metres out.
When the English outfit got on the front foot, Clarke chased down Millie Hyett to foil a midfield break. Boylan fumbled a pass near her own line, though, and off the resulting scrum, Morrall put Green over from close range for a seven-pointer.
As both benches began to be emptied, Ulster prop Barrett picked up a loose ball to power back up towards halfway. Ireland upped the tempo in attack with Buttimer's inviting short pass putting Kiripati storming past halfway on a straight line.
Grainne Burke misdirected an offload as England regained possession into their own 22, only for fellow replacement, IQ Rugby recruit May Goulding, to break from a 63rd-minute ruck, keeping the opposition on the retreat.
With 10 minutes remaining, Ireland struck for their second try. Replacement Ellie O'Sullivan Sexton's clever right-footed kick had England in trouble in the back-field, and Clarke swooped to nudge the ball on and pick up for a classy finish.
A free-kick at a lineout prevented Ireland from building for another potential score, and they needed IQ Rugby duo Niamh Gallagher and Goulding to race back and put in two terrific try-saving tackles to keep England out before the end.
