UNDER-20/Ireland 26 Scotland 0:THE SCORELINE would suggest a powerful performance by Ireland at Dubarry Park, Athlone, last night but coach Mike Ruddock will be the first to appreciate a big improvement will be required if a Grand Slam is to be won against England at Adams Park next Friday. Scotland were poor and should have been put to the sword a lot earlier.
Ireland blitzed the Scots in the opening minutes with a superb try from Shane Layden. The former Roscommon minor footballer, playing on his club ground, collected a clearance on halfway, dinked the ball over the initial tackler and sprinted down the left to score after four minutes. Captain Paddy Jackson, who had missed with a 40-metre penalty after two minutes, was just wide with the touchline conversion.
The Scottish scrum and lineout were trouble but while Ireland dominated possession, they did not hammer home their advantage. Another break from Layden created the opening which led to Scotland conceding a penalty after 14 minutes which Jackson converted. But Ireland were not able to add to that 8-0 lead and Scotland were let off the hook by some sloppy play from Ireland.
Layden needed to be alert to beat Scotland winger Michael Crawley to the ball as the visitors broke from deep after 25 minutes. Moments later outhalf Harry Leonard, who has played half a dozen games for Edinburgh in the PRO 12 this season, was off target with a penalty, while Jackson missed from 45 metres three minutes from the break.
Two more penalties from Jackson secured the win after the restart before scrumhalf Luke McGrath raced over for their second try after 63 minutes. Jackson added the points to make it 21-0 and they sealed the issue seven minutes from time when number eight Jack Conan barged over from close range.
IRELAND: S Layden (Buccaneers/Connacht); C Finn (Buccaneers/Connacht), C Farrell (Dungannon/Ulster), JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster), F Horan (Lansdowne/Leinster); P Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster), L McGrath (UCD/Leinster); K McCall (Ballynahinch/Ulster), J Rael (Garryowen/Munster), P Reilly (Lansdowne/Leinster); I Henderson (QUB/Ulster), D Qualter (Buccaneers/Connacht), C Gilsenan (UCD/Leinster), A Conneely (Corinthians/Connacht), J Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster). Replacements: J Coghlan (UCD/Leinster) for Conneely (46 mins), D Merrey (Clontarf/Leinster) for Reilly (58 mins), T Beirne (Lansdowne/Leinster) for Qualter (63 mins), C O’Connell (Galwegians/Connacht) for Rael (69 mins), K Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) for McGrath, (69 mins), C Marsh (Dublin University/Leinster) for Jackson (69 mins), S Olding (Belfast Harleuins/Ulster) for Hanrahan (71 mins), J Cawley (Leinster) for McCall (71 mins).
SCOTLAND: T Allan; J Farndale, M Bennett, F Russell, M Crawley; H Leonard, M Torrance; R Hislop, G Turner, A Allan; A Redmayne, J Gray; M Eadie, W Bordill, J Swanson. Replacements: A Sinclair for Redmayne (47 mins), M McConnell for Redmayne (52 mins), R Ferguson for Bennett (60 mins), R Anderson for Turner (62 mins), C Reid for Swanson (68 mins), T Steven for Crawley (68 mins), G Robertson for A Allan (72 mins) J Bhatti for Hislop (71 mins).
Referee: M Raynal (France).
