Ireland just held on to defeat Canada 44-40 in the final round of European U19s Shield matches, with late tries from Ieffi Hannan, Samuel Douglas and centre Eddy McGillan seeing them home in a thriller.
“Fair play to Canada, what a team,” said Ireland head coach Dave Merrick, as his side claimed second spot on the table. “We planned to move their big men about but it didn’t come off so we had to revert to basic rugby, it became a battle of attrition and our boys had a lot of heart.
“Sometimes you’ve got to be firm to be fair and that’s what the boys got at half time.”
Winger Jacob Williams posted a hat trick for the young Wolverines who led 22-12 at the break but just couldn’t hold on in the end.
Canada 40
Oliver Lenahan, Wyatt Klasen, Rory Jago, Michael Tsoutsis, Jacob Williams, Jack Shortis, Torin Brooks, Santiago Benavides, Thomas Haufe, Bogdan Dimitrijevic, Blake Marshall, Alex Paddle, Noah Bolton. Interchanges: Elliot Barton, Joshua Williams, Alex Dymock, Patricio Asomoza Estrada
Tries: Williams (1, 9, 74), Jago (18), Bolton (37, 52); Goals: Lenahan 5/6
Ireland 44
Finn Maguire, Ieffi Hannan, Eddy McGillan, Samuel Douglas, Aaron Corbett, Bobby Barton, Theo-Cole Cyprien, Jack Brown, Harry Knowles, Richie Whelan, Rhys Morgan, Tiernan Conway, Daniel Ridpath. Interchanges: Finn Maguire, Dominic Greene, Donncha Fee, Charlie Sweeney
Tries: Corbett (3, 33), Brown (47, 69), Maguire (55), Hannan (60), Douglas (66), McGillan (76). Goals: Barton 6/8
Referee: Nectarios Tsakalos (Greece)
Half Time: 22-12