England Under-20 side defeats Ireland in first match of 2011 Junior World Championship - Rugby
England’s Under-20 national rugby side has kick started their International Rugby Board (IRB) Junior World Championship in a style as they defeated their European sporting rivals Ireland by eight points. England returned the match figure of 33 – 25 at Stadio
Comunale di Monigo, Treviso on Friday June 10, 2011.
England under 20s head coach, Rob Hunter, has expressed his delight and satisfaction on the performance of his players against the relatively tougher opposition. He said, “We are very happy, it is one of the toughest games around England-Ireland match.”
Hunter further added that the players need to improve their performances and they need to take every opportunity that comes their way. England’s Under-20 side missed three scoring opportunities earlier in the match, which includes two conversions and a penalty.
Hunter said, “I think there wasn’t much in it, just in the end we were lucky they missed a few kicks early doors, and also just one or two of our players, when we needed our guys to stand up they just managed to haul themselves over the line but it was very
close.”
England Under-20 side started the match strongly and put their first points on the board in the second minute of the game, courtesy of their winger Andy Short’s try. England’s fly half, George Ford, followed with his conversion. England enjoyed more ball
possession during the phase and extended their lead to thirteen points courtesy of Ford’s 14th and 20th minute penalty.
In the remaining part of the first half, Ireland’s side came back strongly as they enjoyed more ball possession. However, they failed to capitalise on the scoring opportunities created. Ireland U20 fly half, Paddy Jackson, missed two penalties before successfully
nailing his first penalty of the game in the 31st minute of the game.
Ireland’s winger Andrew Conway scored a try during the 38th minute of the game followed by Jackson’s conversion. England’s prop Henry Thomas scored a try in the 43rd minute of the game followed by Jackson’s 46th minute penalty
for Ireland to reduce the lead by just five points at the end of the first half.
Both teams started the second half strongly as they both tried to dominate the ball and territory possession. Ireland was first to score in the second-half courtesy of Jackson’s penalty in the tenth minute of the second half. England’s prop Mako Vunipola
scored the third try for the game in the 20th minute of the second-half to confirm England’s control over the game. Besides Ford’s penalty, England’s substitute winger, Marland Yarde, scored a try followed by Ford’s conversion.
However, Ireland only managed to score three penalties courtesy of their substituted fly half James Mckinney.
England Under-20 captain, Alex Grey, added, “There is a lot we need to work on, but we will look at the game tape and we will take it from there. We will have to look at the penalties we gave away, but if we play how well we can and we are disciplined we
can score some points and do really well in this tournament." He also expressed his satisfaction at winning the first game of the tournament and expects that the tough game against Ireland has geared his team up for the upcoming crunch matches.
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