Ryan hat-trick not enough as Ireland U20s lose to England

Ireland U20s 27 – 34 England U20s

Andrew Browne’s Ireland Under-20 squad fell to an opening round defeat to England in the Junior World Championship in Tbilisi, Georgia, losing out 34-27 to their Six Nations rivals.

A hat-trick of tries from winger Daniel Ryan, and further second half scores from Noah Byrne and Jack Deegan means Ireland leave with a valuable try bonus point in the bag.

It was Browne’s men who made the faster squad, racing into a 12-0 lead.

Charlie O’Shea’s perfectly-weighted crossfield kick set up Daniel Ryan’s first, before the Connacht man added a second just six minutes in after O’Shea and Byrne combined down the narrow side.

With Dylan McNeice sent to the bin shortly after the quarter hour, England surged in front.

Jimmy Staples and James Pater helped put their noses in front before a penalty try, and Ben Blaney yellow card, compounded a rough ten minutes for Ireland.

Out-half Hugh Shields kicked a penalty right before half-time to give England a 12-point buffer at the break, which Ireland cut down straight away.

Ryan completed his hat-trick just two minutes into the second 40, again linking up with the deputising O’Shea.

England kept Ireland at arm’s length however with Will Knight’s try in response three minutes later.

Noah Byrne and Jack Deegan helped Ireland reduce the gap to just four points approaching the final ten minutes, but a further penalty from Shields secured the victory for England.

Ireland return to action on Thursday when they take on last year’s semi-finalists Argentina, in hopes of securing a top-two finish in the pool.

Ireland: Noah Byrne; Charlie Molony, Rob Carney, James O’Leary, Daniel Ryan; Charlie O’Shea, Christopher Barrett; Max Doyle, Rian Handley, Sami Bishti (capt); Donnacha McGuire, Dylan McNeice; Josh Neill, Ben Blaney, Diarmaid O’Connell.

Replacements: Duinn Maguire (for Handley, 57), Adam Cooper (for Doyle, 64), Blake McClean (for Bishti, 70), Paddy Woods (for McGuire, 64), Alex Lautsou (for Blaney, 50), James O’Dwyer, Tom Wood (for O’Shea, 60), Jack Deegan (for Carney, 40).