Ireland U20 17 Wales U20 19:Ireland Under-20s suffered a narrow 19-17 defeat at the hands of Wales in their fifth place play-off match at the IRB Under-20 World Cup in Fukuoka, Japan.
Michael Keating ran in Ireland’s first try after just six minutes but Wales responded through Justin Tipuric on 20 minutes.
The closely fought contest turned into a kicking contest with Ireland’s Ian McKinley and Matthew Jarvis playing the lead roles. The Welshman landed four penalties and a conversion compared to McKinley’s four penalties.
Wales led 16-11 at the break before Ireland’s two penalties early in the second period brought them back into the match.
However Jarvis converted the decisive points for Wales at the death, which leaves Ireland to play Samoa in their final game of the tournament to decide seventh and eighth place.
England will play New Zealand in the final.
Scorers:
Ireland:
Try: Michael Keating
Pens: Ian McKinley (x4)
Wales:
Try: Justin Tipuric
Con: Matthew Jarvis
Pens: Matthew Jarvis (x4)
Ireland Under-20: Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster); David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster), Danny Barnes (UCC/Munster), Eamonn Sheridan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Michael Keating (Clontarf/Leinster); Ian McKinley (UCD/Leinster), Conor Murray (Garryowen Munster); Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Thomas Sexton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Adam Macklin (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Mark Flanagan (UCD/Leinster), Rhys Ruddock (Millfield School/Exiles), Brian O'Hara (UL Bohemians/Munster), Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) (capt).
Replacements used: David O'Callaghan (UCC/Munster) for O'Mahony (6 mins), Joe Moran (Galwegians/Connacht) for O'Hara (half-time), Andrew Burke (Garryowen/Munster) for Barnes (46), Matthew Healy (Lansdowne/Leinster) for Murray (56), Paddy McAllister (Ballynahinch/Ulster) for Macklin (61), Jonny Shiels (Queen's University/Ulster) for Madigan (75). Not used: David McGregor (Ballynahinch/Ulster).
Wales Under-20: Daniel Newton; James Loxton, Jason Harries, Ashley Beck, Rhys Downes; Matthew Jarvis, Lloyd Williams; Aaron Coundley, Rhys Williams, Scott Andrews (capt), James King, Ashley Sweet, Justin Tipuric, Rhys Jenkins, James Thomas.
Replacements used: Scott Williams for Beck (17 mins), David Langdon for S Williams (58), Rory Pitman for Sweet (65), Josh Navidi for Jenkins (75). Not used: Craig Attwell, Simon Gardiner, James Leadbeater.
Referee: Jerome Garces (France)
