Young guns’ brave fightback comes up just short
THREE second-half tries weren’t enough in a gallant Irish comeback in Bordeaux as Noel McNamara’s U20s fell to a 34-24 loss on the opening weekend of the Six Nations.
Trailing 22-3 at the interval, the visitors appeared to be staring down the barrel, but a penalty try and efforts from Jonny Stewart and Dave McCarthy reduced the deficit to three points with five minutes remaining.
However, a fifth try from the hosts late on, with substitute prop Demba Bamba powering over, sealed a 10-point victory.
The hosts began in style with Romain Ntamack stamping his class over proceedings. Son of French legend Emile, the outhalf scored two first-half tries and was flawless from the tee.
Sandwiched between his brace was a training ground move that saw flanker Cameron Woki take a pop pass from a five metre lineout to peel around the cover and dash over.
Harry Byrne’s penalty was all Ireland had to show in the first half.
After the resumption, however, Ireland took the game to France and deserved their penalty try when captain Tommy O’Brien and full-back Michael Silvester attempted to ground Byrne’s through ball.
Stewart and McCarthy added to the scoreboard as Ireland’s resilience and patience was rewarded, before substitute Bamba sealed the win for France.
Meanwhile, Wales U20s produced a clinical display to open their campaign with a 36-3 victory over Scotland in Colwyn Bay.
The hosts scored three good tries in the first half, scrum-half Harri Morgan grabbing the first after two minutes.
Wing Joe Goodchild and centre Corey Baldwin added further scores, full-back Paddy Dewhirst landing a toothless Scotland’s only points with a penalty.
Flanker Dan Davies and Baldwin crossed for late tries.