Irish take honours in last game of Series

WALES U-18S ................... 36 IRELAND U-18S .............. 38

A strong second-half comeback from Ireland gave the visitors victory against Wales in the final International Series match of the year at Ystrad Mynach.

Ireland took the lead after four minutes when fly-half Harry Byrne punished a Welsh indiscretion inside the hosts’ 22 with a penalty kick.

Three minutes later, Wales No.8 Taine Basham showed a winger’s pace to sprint in for a try from just inside the Irish half. Fly-half Cai Evans converted for a 7-3 advantage.

Evans was again on hand moments later to add a further three points.

The Welsh backs started putting together some audacious phases of play, and were desperately unlucky not to convert their ambitions into points.

Until around the 25th minute, that is, wing Tomi Lewis outstripped a large chunk of the Irish defence to find the supporting Harri Morgan for the scrumhalf ’s try. Evans’s conversion made it 17-3.

Imperious play by the Welsh backs resulted in centre Tom Hoppe scoring under the posts. His effort was converted by Evans for a 24-10 half-time lead.

The second half had just begun when good footwork from Irish replacement Craig Casey in the Welsh 22 was enough to hold the Welsh defence and put away scrum-half Cormac Foley for Ireland’s second try, converted by Byrne: 24-17.

James McCarthy then put Wales five points up in the 44th minute, showing too much gas for the men in green to touch down in the corner.

Ireland soon reduced the deficit to 12 points when strong aerial work by Kernohan saw him take a crossfield kick at pace for a try converted by Byrne. 36-24.

When Wales were penalised with less than 10 minutes left, Ireland kicked to touch for a lineout in the Welsh 22. From there they were able breach the Welsh line on a crash ball for an Eoin Barr try converted by Byrne.

Wales did well in defence to hold up the Irish attacker over the line with time almost up on the clock, but the momentum had noticeably swung in the visitors’ favour and moments later they had driven the ball over the line for a try by No.8 Dan O’Donovan, which Byrne converted.

With the scores at 38-36, Wales were handed a last-gasp opportunity for the win when they were awarded a penalty after a high tackle, but the long-range effort was marginally wide.