Scarratt leads the way as the Red Roses clear final hurdle
four victories at a stunning average of over 45 points per game.
Yet just as it was for the England Under-20s, Middleton’s side had to earn their triumph the hard way, holding firm in the face of wave after wave of Irish attacks in the third quarter to preserve their narrow lead from a first-half try by Amy Wilson Hardy. A huge try-saving tackle by Emily Scarratt on her opposite number Jenny Murphy typified that champion spirit and, having repelled Ireland’s best efforts, England were able to find another gear, with further tries by Laura Keates, Amy Cokayne, Scarratt and Lydia Thompson.
England, fresh from scoring seven tries against Scotland, had dominated the opening exchanges, with Scarratt making up for a missed penalty by firing a perfect pass to put Hardy over for a try.
Ireland’s waves of attacks appeared relentless in the third quarter but they could not translate pressure into points, allowing England to close the game out in impressive fashion.
Scarratt landed a penalty after Mairead Coyne had been sent to the sin bin for deliberately knocking on the England centre’s potentially try-scoring pass.
England were able to exploit the numerical advantage with a try by Cokayne – her fifth of the championship – then two more from Scarratt and Thompson. There was a late try too for Ireland by Leah Lyons, but this was England’s night.
Middleton said: “We just knew we had to weather the storm. The girls were magnificent in the second half.” England Under-20s got hopes of a historic English Grand Slam treble off to the perfect start yesterday by securing their first clean sweep since 2011 with a display of such character that it should act as an inspiration for Eddie Jones’s senior side against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium today.
The Under-20s, just like Jones’s men, went into the contest with the Six Nations title already in the bag after four bonus-point wins, yet the final hurdle proved the most testing and of greatest substance.
The Ireland side may not be of the same vintage that reached the World Rugby Under-20s Championship final last year when they lost to England, but they took the champions right to the wire.
The game finished in the most dramatic of fashions, with a series of ferocious Ireland drives ending over the English try-line.
Yet it was the England players who jumped for joy when the whistle blew as the ball had not been Sharks flanker. Bill Johnston landed the penalty but England still extended their lead when hooker Henry Walker went over for a try in first-half injury time, with Max Malins adding his second conversion.
Gavin Coombes was driven over for a 65th-minute try to bring the Irish side to within a score of the lead. Ireland’s resurgence continued, but England’s defence ultimately held firm.