England 21-39 Ireland
Ireland's Under-20s claimed the Triple Crown and remain on course to defend their Six Nations Grand Slam title after a convincing six-try victory over England at Franklin Gardens.
Both sides went into the game unbeaten and in front of a decent crowd of just over 5,000 did their best to play some attacking free-flowing rugby in blustery conditions.
It was Ireland who did much of the early running and they opened the scoring on five minutes through a Jack Crowley penalty, but the hosts hit back five minutes later with the game’s opening try.
At 6 foot 5" and 124kg Rusiate Tuima always looked like being a danger man for England and so it proved when bundled through three Irish tacklers, helping England to keep the ball alive and allowing George Hammond to pick and go, before forcing his way over the line. George Barton obliged with the conversion.
Ireland responded well to that setback and drove into the heart of English territory with Alex Soroka making up some great scrambling metres to set the platform to attack. The visitors went through the phases, bashing up against the England wall before Lewis Finlay's inviting pass opened the door for Soroka to plough through and put his side 8-7 in front.
The visitors were in control now and started to really turn on the style, no more so than on 27 minutes when a stunning behind-the-back pass from Ethan McIlroy who put the ball straight into the arms of Hayden Hyde and he had the simplest of jobs in scoring Ireland's second try, which Crowley converted.
Noel McNamara's side were purring now and England's defence creaking with McIlroy enjoying himself. The Ulster youngster made the break for Ireland's third try when he skipped his way through three England challenges and while he was down three metres from the line Thomas Ahern was able to keep the ball alive and bundle it over the line with the help of John McKee.
Trailing 22-7, England were looking to get into the break to regroup but worse was to come on the stroke of half-time when the brilliant McIlroy claimed his second try of the night and ensured that his side went in 29-7 in front and with a bonus point in their pocket.
With the wind at their backs England improved after the restart and Charlie Watson helped to reduce the deficit when he broke through the Irish defensive line before off-loading for Hugh Tizzard to go over but that good work was undone six minutes later.
A defensive error from Tom Roebuck opened the door for Ireland and a combination of Max O'Reilly and Andrew Smith charged through to allowed the replacement O'Reilly to net Ireland's fifth try.
England battled gamely on and three big carries from Emmanuel Iyogun put them in position to get their rolling maul going, which they used to great effect from a line-out on 56 minutes allowing Theo Dan to dive over to reduce the deficit to 13 points - 34-21.
However it was Ireland who would have the final say as they drew the sting out of the England attack in the final stages and a second try from Thomas Ahern on 74 minutes settled things.
Next up for Ireland's a home game with Italy in Musgrave Park where a bonus point win would see them crowned Six Nations Champions with a game to spare.
