U20 Six Nations: Scotland 15 Ireland 33
Charlie Molony grabbed an opening half hat-trick of tries at the Hive Stadium in Edinburgh on Saturday night as Ireland defeated Scotland to earn their first win of this year’s U20 Six Nations Championship.
After being released through a gap by fullback Daniel Green – one of three players added to the Irish starting line-up for the game – Molony dotted down with just over 90 seconds on the clock.
The former Blackrock College student proceeded to double his account by getting on the end of a Sam Wisniewski cross-field kick and following a third try from lock Billy Corrigan, wrapped up his hat-trick to give Ireland the bonus point.
Scotland were left deflated by the 22-minute attacking blitz, and even though the hosts finally got up and running four minutes later when Fergus Watson touched down in fine style, Ireland had a 26-5 cushion by the interval.
Despite the deficit, the hosts carried some momentum into the second half, Joe Roberts – who moved from hooker to the backrow after the resumption – finished off an enterprising move for Scotland’s second try on 44 minutes.
But Ireland remained firmly in control of their own destiny, Oisin Minogue diving over the line seconds after his introduction just shy of the hour mark.
A spirited Scotland bagged an additional five-pointer through Hector Patterson inside the final-quarter, but ultimately it was a convincing victory for Ireland.
SCOTLAND: J Brown; N Moncrieff, J Ventisei, K Yule, F Watson; M Urwin, N Cowan; O McKenna, J Roberts, O Blyth-Lafferty; C Moss, D Halkon; C Lindsay, B Allen, R Logan.
Replacements: S Stephen for Allen, J Shearer for McKenna, B Godsell for Moss, H Patterson for Cowan (all ht); O Duncan for Lindsay (59); J Stewart for Blyth-Lafferty (66); R Wolfenden for Urwin (71); C Waugh for Moncrieff (74).
IRELAND: D Green; C Molony, G O’Leary Kareem, C Fahy, C Mangan; S Wisniewski, C Logan; B Bohan, H Walker, A Mullan; M Ronan, B Corrigan; M Foy, B Power, E McCarthy.
Replacements: T McAllister for Mullan (ht); C Magee for Walker (53); O Minogue for Power (59); W Wootton for Logan (61); D Hicks for Wisniewski (64); D Walsh for Ronan (65); E Smyth for O’Leary Kareem, (66); P Moore for Bohan (68).
Referee: T Bertazza (Argentina).
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