UNDER-20 SIX NATIONS/Ireland 27 Italy 8:IRELAND REMAIN on course for their first Under-20 Grand Slam since 2007 after Paddy Jackson helped kick them to victory over Italy in Dubarry Park in Athlone last night.
The home side looked to have sealed the win with Jackson’s penalties alone, but Italian winger Alex Morsellino showed admirable pace to run in a try from his own 22 three minutes from time to put just a converted try between the sides.
But lock Ian Henderson and Connacht starlet Shane Leyden crossed for tries in the closing minutes.
It was the accuracy of Jackson that proved key in this Irish win as he landed five penalties and a conversion.
The Italians, in just their second game of the competition, started the brighter, with outside centre Michele Campagnaro causing problems with carving runs at the Irish defence. And after missing the target from just short of half-way in the second minute, outhalf Riccardo Della Rossa got the visitors off the mark with a straight-forward kick from under the posts after Ireland were penalised for offside.
Jackson kicked Ireland level with a penalty from just outside the 22-metre line on 12 minutes after Alessio Zdrilich was caught offside by referee Cammy Rudkin.
Ireland continued to up the tempo and the gaps began to appear. Foster Horan, Jordan Coghlan and Taghg Beirne all came close to crossing for the Irish in the 18th minute as a combination of the Italians’ scramble defence and the crucial pass not going to hand saw Italy hold firm.
A quick-tap penalty from Niall Scannell under the Italian posts brought groans from the Irish supporters, but in the next phase the Italians infringed once again and Rudkin sent Italian tighthead Antonio Brandolini to the sin bin for deliberate offside.
Jackson kicked the penalty and just after the half-hour mark landed his third kick from just inside the 10-metre line after Italy infringed at the breakdown.
On the verge of half-time secondrow Matteo Ferro became the second Azurri to be yellow carded, for going off his feet. Jackson kicked the penalty to give Ireland a 12-3 half-time lead.
Italy were dealt a severe blow just after the break when Della Rossa was a stretchered off after a clash of heads with Chris Farrell.
Just before the hour-mark Italy were penalised for failing to retreat 10 metres and Jackson split the posts from the left.
Just as Ireland looked to run down the clock the Italians stunned the home crowd when winger Morsellino ran from his own 22 to touch down to the right of the posts. Michael Odiete missed the conversion.
A well-oiled move involving Jackson, Layden and Aaron Conneely was finished superbly in the corner by lock Henderson and Layden’s late touchdown sealed the win.
IRELAND U20: S Layden; C Finn, C Farrell, JJ Hanrahan, F Horan; P Jackson, K Marmion; K McCall, N Scannell, P Reilly; T Beirne, I Henderson; J Coghlan, C Gilsenan, J Conan. Replacements: J Rael for Scannell (56 mins); A Conneely for Coghlan (59 mins); L McGrath for Marmion (68 mins); C Marsh for Finn, D Qualter for Conan (both 71 mins); D Merrey for Reilly, J Cawley for McCall, S Olding for Jackson (80 mins).
ITALY U20: D Odiete; A Esposito, M Campagnaro, A Bettin, A Morsellino; R Della Rossa, G Calabrese; S Drissi, G Maistri, A Brandolini; A Luca Mammana, M Ferro; V Marazzi, F Conforti, A Zdrilich. Replacements: L Scarsini for Drissi (34 mins); J Apperley for Della Rossa (46 mins); de Marchi for Marazzi (59 mins); P Ceccarelli for Brandolini (65 mins); R Riccioli for Mammana (71 mins); AE Padovani for Bettin (78 mins); L Conti for Maistri, F Guarducci for Odiete (both 80 mins).
Referee: Cammy Rudkin (Scotland).
