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| England: (13) 32 |
| Tries: Carnduff, Spencer, James, Waghorn Pens: Kerr 2 Cons: Kerr 3 |
| Ireland: (15) 32 |
| Tries: Treacy, O’Connor, McLaughlin, Walker, L Murphy Pens: Murphy Cons: Murphy, Naughton |
Luke Murphy scored an injury-time try to deny England the Under-20 Six Nations title and snatch a draw for Ireland.
Ben Waghorn’s late try looked to have sealed the title with a game to spare, after Kane James’ score drew England level.
Ireland scored their bonus-point try through Henry Walker and looked in control before the frantic ending, which leaves both sides still in the running to take the title heading into the final round.
Richie Murphy’s Ireland side, who came into this game a point behind England, are in the strongest position to secure the Six Nations title as they face winless Scotland in their final game.
England face the more difficult task of travelling to France.
In an error-filled first half, fly-half Jack Murphy, son of head coach Murphy, took control for the visitors with a pin-point cross-field kick to Finn Treacy, who finished sharply in the corner to cancel out Finn Carnduff’s opening try.
Treacy then turned provider for his full-back Ben O’Connor after a long pass from Murphy cut out the English defence.
The hosts’ narrow defence was again exploited by the hands of Murphy for Hugo McLaughlin to score in the corner.
Replacement Oli Spencer finished off a cross-field kick to ensure England stayed in touch before the thrilling final stages.
With the scores level after James’ try, England turned down a penalty in search of the bonus-point try, which would clinch the title, and sharp hands released Waghorn to score the potential title-winning try.
However, Ireland remained calm after the restart and worked their way up the field for Murphy to score and Sean Naughton to add the simple conversion which preserved their title chances.
Line-ups
England: Redshaw; Cousins, Waghorn, Kerr, Wills; Bellamy, McParland; Opoku-Fordjour, Oliver, Sela, Sodeke, Kpoku, Carnduff (capt), Pollock, Michelow.
Replacements: Isaacs, Kirk, Halliwell, Carr, James, Douglas, Makepeace-Cubitt, Spencer.
Ireland: O’Connor; Treacy, De Klerk, Gavin, McLaughlin; Murphy, Coffey; Usanov, Sheahan, Boyd, Spicer, O’Connell (capt), Hopes, Ward, Murphy.
Replacements: Walker, Howard, Bell, Corrigan, Edogbo, Brophy, Naughton, Colbert.
