Jack Kelly, Colm Hogan and Charlie Connolly of Dublin University Football Club (DUFC) all represented Ireland under 20s in their encounter with Wales in the penultimate round of the Under 20 Six Nations Championship. Despite being the team’s first defeat, the loss in Colwyn Bay ended Ireland’s championship hopes and handed the tournament to England.
At outside centre, Jack Kelly returned to the side after his shoulder injury sustained in Ireland’s first game against Scotland. Hogan replaced Kelly with 50 minutes on the clock whilst tighthead prop, Charlie Connolly, completed 72 minutes of the tie.
Wales took an early lead in the match from a penalty but Ireland captain, Calvin Nash, put his side in front with a well-taken try just five minutes later. That lead, however, was also short-lived as Wales’s Corrie Tarrant identified a gap in the Irish line, through which he had no reservations about running through to score. A conversion followed and then another try from Wales’s Dane Blacker to give the hosts a 10-point lead. Centre Williams’ score just before half time extended the Welsh advantage and put the score at 24-13 as the sides went into half-time.
After the break, a further penalty from Jones edged the hosts further ahead before an Irish revival turned the game on its head. First loosehead prop Conway went over and Johnson added the extras before flanker Boyle brought the sides level on 50 minutes.
Ireland failed to cope, however, with their host’s pressure, replacement Conor Fitzgerald being sin-binned for not retreating a requisite 10 yards. A man down, Ireland conceded two tries in the closing stages of the game, meaning the match finished with a harsh score line of 41-27 to the Welsh.
Ireland play their final game of the tournament on St Patrick’s Day this Friday against champions, England. The Irish team will be looking to compete for a runners-up spot whilst denying their visitors a Grand Slam.
