IRB JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS/Argentina 24 Ireland 21:IRELAND'S UNDER-20s suffered their third successive narrow defeat as they finished bottom of Pool B at Rosario.

Allen Clarke’s side came to Argentina with high hopes after winning the Six Nations, but defeats to France, England and Argentina have consigned them to the ninth-place play-off.

Despite losing captain Rhys Ruddock to the senior squad, Ireland started brightly and led 13-0 as the end of the first half approached but Argentina hit back and were level at 13-all at the break.

Hesitation by Noel Reid early in the second half led to a penalty and from the lineout in the corner the hosts pounded the line until Tomas De La Vega forced his way over from close range.

James McKinney narrowed the gap with a penalty.

Dominic Ryan played the ball from an offside position to give Santiago Mendez a chance to extend the lead to eight with eight minutes remaining, but Ireland hit back with substitute David Doyle going over in the corner after slick hands from McKinney. But it wasn’t to be enough.

SCORERS – Ireland: B Marshall, D Doyle 1 try each, J McKinney 1 con, 3 pens. Argentina: G Villa T De La Vega 1 try each., S Mendez 1 con, 3 pens, I Rodriguez Muedra 1 dg.

IRELAND: A Conway; D Hudson (N Reid 40), E Griffin, N Spence, S Zebo (B Macken 63); J McKinney, J Cooney (M Heaney 72); J O’Connell (D Doyle 60), N Annett (capt), S Maguire (D Buckley 24); D O’Callaghan, B Marshall; J Murphy, D Ryan (B O’Hara 72), P Butler.

ARGENTINA: P Mercerat; D Isaack (M Masera 56), B Ormson, F Haustein, M Montero; I Rodriguez Muedra, S Mendez; F Errecaborde, T Baravalle, VD Arias (E Lopez 65); M Chiappesoni, L Ponce; G Villa, T De La Vega, A Kessen (capt).

Referee: P Gauzere (France).