Sport

Sella's proteges have Belie for it

Under-20 International/France 24 Ireland 13: An injury-time try from Wesley Fofana, converted by outhalf Mathieu Belie, put …

Sat Feb 09 2008 - 00:00

Under-20 International/France 24 Ireland 13:An injury-time try from Wesley Fofana, converted by outhalf Mathieu Belie, put a gloss on last night's French victory at the Stade Jacques Fouroux in Auch.

The former Belvedere schoolboy Martin Dufficy brought Ireland within a point after prop Nicolas Agnesi was sinbinned for fighting entering the last quarter before a Belie penalty gave Philippe Sella's side a four-point cushion.

Despite losing the highly-rated Stade Français centre Mathieu Bastareaud with a calf injury, the French started stronger, scrumhalf Thierry Lacrampe crossing for a try after 15 minutes, Belie converting.

Ireland were soon level, the winger Chris Cochrane getting over after good work down the short side and Cochrane adding the extras.

READ MORE

On 29 minutes Charles Gimenez claimed a second French touchdown but a Dufficy penalty brought matters back to 14-10 at the interval.

Cochrane and Eoin O'Malley, impressed at the back. Prop Paul Karaviannis, flanker Kieran Essex and captain Paul Ryan did well up front.

It was Eric Elwood's first defeat as under-20 coach and he will look to rectify this slight when Scotland come to Athlone on February 22nd.

SCORING SEQUENCE:15 mins: T Lacrampe try, M Belie con, 7-0; 19: C Cochrane try, M Dufficy con, 7-7; 29: C Gimenez try, Belie con, 14-7; 32: Dufficy pen, 14-10; 65: Dufficy pen, 14-13; 73: Belie pen, 17-13; 80: Belie try, con, 24-13.

IRELAND:S Scanlon (Munster); D Kearney (Leinster), E O'Malley (Leinster), E Sheridan (Leinster), C Cochrane (Ulster); M Dufficy (Leinster), D Moore (Leinster); P Karaviannis (Ulster), S Douglas (Ulster), B Barclay (Leinster); D Nolan (Connacht), E Sherriff (Leinster); K Essex (Munster), P Ryan (Leinster) capt, P Mallon (Leinster). Replacements: J Sandford (Ulster) for Nolan (half-time), J Harris-Wright (Leinster) for Douglas (55 mins), S Archer (Munster) for Barclay, I Nagle (Munster) for Sherriff, C Cleary (Leinster) for Sheridan (all 75 mins).

FRANCE:J Dumora (Pau); V Mehn (Colomiers), C Gimenez (Toulouse), Y David (Bourgoin), W Fofana (Clermont Auvergne); M Belie (Toulouse), T Lacrampe (Tarbes); N Agnesi (Toulon), C Maynadier (Albi), K Kervarec (Montpellier); Y Maestri (Toulon) capt, A Jaulhac (Brive); Y Vivalda (Perpignan), A Chollon (Bordeaux-Begles), R Lakafia (Grenoble).

Referee: C Passacantando(Italy).