Contrasting Fortunes For 19s and 21s.

While the Ireland Under 21s turned in a sparkling performance to defeat Grand Slam holders Wales, 30-19 in Galway, the Under 19s were on the receiving end from their Welsh counterparts losing in the end 34-14, a game played in Musgrave Park, Cork.

The Under 21s, following on from their 20-20 draw in France a week earlier, scored four tries, those of those coming in the opening quarter when the Welsh were reduced to 14, after John Yapp had been yellow carded.

Jamie Heaslip scored the first and the second coming from lock David Gannon.

Ireland led 22-9 at the break and went further ahead when Gareth Steenson knocked over a penalty before his Queens University put the issue beyond doubt wioth a well taken try in the 48th minute.

The Welsh struck late in the game with those two tries but they served only to put a respectable gloss on the final scoreline.

Ireland U21: A. Finn (Dolphin); R. Lane (UCC),
J. Hearty (Blackrock College), G. Telford (Dungannon), T. Bowe (Queens Univ); G. Steenson (Queens), T. O’Leary (Cork Con); J. Wickham (Clontarf), D. Fogarty (Cork Constitution), D. Fitzpatrick (Belfast Harlequins), D. Gannon (Blackrock) capt, S. O’Connor (Cork Con), B. O’Connor (Cork Con), O. Hennessy (Dungannon), J. Heaslip (Dublin University).
Replacements: C. Geoghegan (UCD) for B. O’Connor 33-43 mins; S. Bennett (Bath) for Fitzpatrick 40; D. O’Brien (Old Belvedere) for
B. O’Connor half time; R. Shaw (London Wasps) for O’Brien 77; N. McComb (Dundee HSFP) for S. O’Connor 80.

Wales: M. Nuthall; Ifan Evans, R. Payne, L. Thomas, F. Brillante; S. MacLeod, R. Wells; J. Yapp (yellow card 4 mins), H. Bennett, C. Griffiths, Ian Evans, L. Charteris, J. Merriman, R. Pugh capt, R. Dale. Replacements: D. Maddocks for Merriman 5-15 mins; R. Rees for Wells and J. Mills for Evan both 50; G. Evans for I Evans 79.

Referee: S. Davey (England).

Meanwhile in Cork, the Ireland Under 19s were given a torrid time by Wales. The Irish clung on until the 29th minute when Ricky Williams chipped over a penalty and four minutes later when prop Nathan Trevett scored a try which Williams converted. Just before the break, Eamon Ronan opened Ireland’s account with a drop-goal.

They registered the opening score of the second half when Eamon Fitzgerald landed a penalty but Welsh centre Tom Riley scored his side’s second try under the posts.

Aled Thomas dropped a goal and David Walsh scored a third try to put the visitors into a commanding 27-9 lead.

The sides swopped tries in the closing stages, Williams in for his second for the Welsh and replacement full-back Gary Byrne scoring his side’s only try two minutes from time.

Ireland U19: Conor Gildea (Terenure College); Cian O’Sullivan (Greystones), Mark Scott (Belfast Harlequins), Stewart Megaw (QUB), Eamon Fitzgerald (Old Belvedere); Eamonn Ronan (Midleton) Cillian Willis (UCD);
Michael Diffley (Creggs), John Kerins (UCC) Capt,
Paul Doran-Jones (Dub Uni); Billy Holland (CBC), Conor Lavery (Rainey Endowed School); Michael Essex (CBC), John McCall (Royal School Armagh), Adrian Lightowler (Greystones).
Replacements: Anthony Kane (Exiles) for Diffley 56 mins; James Coady (Dublin University) for Kerins 47 mins; Nicholas Goodger (Exiles) for Doran-Jones 47 mins; Fergus McGuckian (UCD) for Essex 43 mins; Peter Phelan (Exiles) for Willis, 41 mins; Michael English (Exiles) for Ronan 41 mins; Gary Byrne (Terenure College) for Gildea 33 mins; 23 – Shane Mullane (Greystones) for Lightowler 50 mins.

Referee: R Devney (RFU).