The Front Row Union Sport - U20 Six Nations: Ireland 27 Italy 8

U20 Six Nations: Ireland 27 Italy 8

Feb 26, 2012

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Ulster youngsters contributed 22 points to Ireland U20’s 27 – 8 win over Italy at Dubarry Park on Friday night with Patrick Jackson slotting over 17 points and Iain Henderson touching down for 5. Ireland’s other score came from full back Shane Layden.

Ireland (12) 27

TRY: Iain Henderson, Shane Layden

CON: Paddy Jackson

PEN: Paddy Jackson (5)

Italy (3) 8

TRY: Alex Morsellino

PEN: Riccardo Della Rossa

Ireland slipped behind, after 10 minutes, to a Riccardo Della Rossa penalty from just inside the 22 but Jackson levelled the game a few minutes later with his first penalty of the night.

Ireland’s captain Jackson came out on top in the kicking battle adding a further three penalties in the first half to give Ireland a 12 – 3 lead at the break in a scrappy enough first half, the main highlight the yellow carding of Italian prop Antonio Brandolini for a professional foul.

Jackson took his tally to 15 with an early penalty after the restart but it looked as though Italy were going to cause problems when they scored the first try of the game when wing Alex Morsellino crossed to make it 15 – 8.

Ireland upped their game and replied in style with Layden and Aaron Conneely sending Henderson over to score in the 68th minute.

Minutes later Ulster’s Chris Farrell set up Layden for the fullback to cross and Jackson added the extras to end the game as a contest.

Ulster’s Stuart Olding got his first cap at this level coming on for Jackson in the closing minutes giving Ulster three U20 outhalfs in the last 2 years. One wonders why Ulster have problems in this position!

IRELAND: Shane Layden, Conor Finn, Chris Farrell, JJ Hanrahan, Foster Horan, Paddy Jackson, Kieran Marmion, Kyle McCall, Niall Scannell, Peter Reilly, Tadhg Beirne, Iain Henderson, Jordan Coghlan, Conor Gilsenan, Jack Conan. Replacements: Cathal Marsh for Farrell (43-47 mins, blood sub), James Rael for Scannell (47), Aaron Conneely for Coghlan (50), Luke McGrath for Marmion (57), Daniel Qualter for Beirne (60), Cathal Marsh for Finn (60), Des Merrey for Reilly (69), Jake Cawley for McCall (75), Stuart Olding for Jackson (79).