England U20 defeated by Ireland U20
England were beaten 42-27 by Ireland at StoneX Stadium in their fourth round Six Nations meet.
England got off to a rampant start, as George Hendy scored inside the opening five minutes.
Off the back of an attacking scrum, the full back entered the line at speed, and outside centre Jacob Cusick put him through a gap to dot down. Fly half Jamie Benson converted the effort, and moments later extended England's lead to 10-0 thanks to a successful penalty.
His Irish counterpart Charlie Tector nudged a penalty of his own to reduce the gap, and scrum half Matthew Devine capitalised on a quick turnover, sniping from close range to score under the sticks. Tector's extras levelled the game at 10-10.
A converted Lorcan McLoughlin try put the visitors into the lead on the 23-minute mark, but England captain Emeka Ilione struck back with one of his own, and Benson hit his seventh point to make it even again at the break, 17-17.
Ireland started the second half stronger than the hosts, and scored early, through prop Rory McGuire. Tector converted the effort, and landed a penalty moments later.
Undeterred, England hit back through a sublime solo score from Cassius Cleaves, making it 22-27. The visitors holding a slender lead.
But Ireland continued to impose themselves deep into the second half through two Aitzol King tries, and five points from the boot of Tector. Despite a late try courtesy of Deago Bailey, it was a consolation as Ireland ran out 42-27 winners.
Teams
England U20
1. Fin Baxter, 2. John Stewart, 3. Tim Hoyt (Leicester Tigers), 4. Lewis Chessum (Leicester Tigers), 5. Tom Lockett (Northampton Saints), 6. Ewan Richards, 7. Toby Knight, 8. Emeka Ilione, 9. Sam Edwards, 10. Jamie Benson, 11. Cassius Cleaves (Harlequins), 12. Ethan Grayson, 13. Jacob Cusick (Leicester Tigers), 14. Deago Bailey, 15. George Hendy.
Replacements
16. Finn Theobald-Thomas (Worcester Warriors), 17. Mark Dormer
18. Mike Summerfield, 19. Chandler Cunningham-South (London Irish), 20. Lucas Brooke, 21. Nye Thomas (Sale Sharks), 22. Louie Johnson, 23. Will Joseph (London Irish).
Ireland U20
1. Jack Boyle, 2. James McCormick, 3. Rory McGuire, 4. Rory O'Tighearnaigh, 5. Mark Morrissey, 6. Lorcan McLoughlin, 7. Reuben Crothers (c), 8. James Culhane, 9. Matthew Devine, 10. Charlie Tector, 11. Fionn Gibbons, 12. Ben Carson, 13. Jude Postlethwaite, 14. Chay Mullins, 15. Patrick Campbell.
Replacements
16. Josh Hanlon, 17. Oisin Michel, 18. Scott Wilson, 19. James McNabney, 20. Diarmuid Mangan, 21. Ethan Coughlan, 22. Tony Butler, 23. Aitzol King.
