Italy 23 Ireland 29:A STERNER test is expected when England come to Athlone on February 27th but Allen Clarke's under-20s remain on course for the Six Nations Championship after a convincing victory in Piacenza on Saturday. A powerful English side travelled to Wales and won 28-16.
Following on from the hard-fought 9-6 defeat of France, the Irish pack further enhanced their reputation with former Belvedere College hooker Tom Sexton controlling a drive for the opening try, while replacement winger Ronan O’Mahony secured the result with a 78th-minute try after a break by centre Eamonn Sheridan.
In between, scrumhalf Conor Murray kept the scoreboard ticking over with three penalties and a conversion, while Blackrock outhalf Ian Madigan and Ian McKinley also contributed with the boot. Rhys Ruddock, son of former Wales coach Mike, and flanker Dominic Ryan, continue to impress up front and there is a lot of potential out wide with more expected from fullback David Kearney and winger Michael Keating throughout the campaign.
Scoring sequence- 4 mins: C Murray pen, 3-0; 9: C Murray, 6-0; 15: T Benvenuti pen, 6-3; 31: T Sexton try, 11-3; C Murray conv, 13-3; 33: T Benvenuti pen, 13-6; 40: T Benvenuti pen, 13-9. Half-time. 45: C Murray pen, 16-9; 48: G Venditti try, 16-14; T Benvenuti conv, 16-16; 50: I McKinley pen, 19-16; 62: I McKinley pen, 22-16; 78: R O'Mahony try, 27-16; I Madigan conv, 29-16; 80: J Furno try 29-21; T Benvenuti conv, 29-23.
ITALY: A Benettin; E Gori, D Majstorovic, T Benvenuti, G Venditti; T Iannone, L Martinelli; A Lovotti, A Manici, L Romano; F Cazzola, J Furno; F Ferrarini, E Caffini, L Petillo (capt). Replacements: G Cicchinelli for Cazzola (56 mins), A Chillon for Ferrarini (56 mins), C Fazzari for Lovotti (59 mins), M Mortali for Venditti (70 mins).
IRELAND: D Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster); M Doyle (UL Bohemians/Munster), I McKinley (UCD/Leinster), E Sheridan (Lansdowne/Leinster), M Keating (Clontarf/Leinster); I Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster), C Murray (Garryowen/Munster); P McAllister (Ballynahinch/Ulster), T Sexton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), J McGrath (St Mary's College/Leinster); C Ruddock (Neath), M Flanagan (UCD/Leinster), R Ruddock (Millfield School), D Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster), P O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) (capt). Replacements: R O'Mahony (Garryowen/Munster) for Doyle (42 mins), M Healy (Lansdowne/Leinster) for Murray (49 mins), J O'Connell (Lansdowne/Leinster) for McGrath (56 mins), J Sandford (Queen's University/Ulster) for Flanagan (66 mins), D McGregor (Ballynahinch/Ulster) for Sexton (70 mins), G Foley (Blackrock College/Leinster) for McKinley (75 mins).
Referee: C Lafon (France)
