Representative matches: England Schools 18; Ireland Schools 20Five penalties from scrum half and captain David Connellan helped Ireland Schools to a hard-fought victory over England at Grange Road, Cambridge on Saturday.
In a tight contest throughout, Ireland led 12-10 at the break through four penalties from Connellan with England's reply coming through a try from centre Mark Foster and a penalty and conversion from outhalf Ross Broadfoot.
Ireland increased their advantage soon after the break when replacement John Hearty got over for a try and Broadfoot and Connellan then exchanged penalties.
A tense finish was set up when Andrew Frost scored a superb individual try for England but some tenacious defending saw Ireland hold out as Broadfoot missed two penalties in the closing minutes.
IRELAND SCHOOLS: E Fitzgerald (Belvedere); S Grissing (St Mary's), D O'Kane (Crescent), S Morrissey (Gonzaga), R Conway (Coleraine AI); T Horner (Campbell Coll), D Connellan (Clongowes, capt); C O'Byrne (St Mary's), D Varley (St Munchins), R Sweeney (St Mary's), L Stevenson (Ballyclare), A Houlihan (Clongowes), K McLaughlin (Gonzaga), J Rockett (St Michael's), D O'Brien (Belvedere). Replacements: O McCormack (St Mary's), J Mackessey (Rockwell), N Conlon (RBAI), C Lennon (St Mary's), S Auld (Armagh Royal), G Stafford (Castleknock), J Hearty (Blackrock).
ENGLAND SCHOOLS: A Buchan; A Frost, M Foster, T Gregory, J Hannond; R Broadfoot, J Bedford; T French, P Allen, M Halsall, S Byrnes (capt), T Ryder, G Cullen, T Rees, L Narraway.
