England secure u20s final with hard-fought win over Ireland

By Will Gupwell

England………………..31

Tries: Wright 24, Allen 30, Kerr 41

Conversions: Kerr 25, 31, 

Penalties: Kerr 37, 51, 57, 80

Yellow Cards:0

England Match Stats:

Penalties Conceded- 9

Lineouts Won- 11

Lineouts Lost- 3

Scrums Won- 6

Scrums Lost- 3

Ireland……………….20

Tries: Coffey 1, Ward 34

Conversions: Murphy 1, 35

Penalties: Murphy 29, 38

Yellow Cards: 0

Ireland Match Stats:

Penalties Conceded- 14

Lineouts Won- 10

Lineouts Lost- 0

Scrums Won- 6

Scrums Lost-5

Half-time score: England 22-20 Ireland

Referee- Morne Ferreria

Attendance- 520

Star Man- Sean Kerr

At the DHL stadium, home of the Stormers, England and Ireland cooked up a stormer of a classic battle as England took the win, securing a spot in next week’s final.

It was pure joy for the English side at full-time, led valiantly by their captain Finn Carnduff, who said at full-time, “I’m lost for words. Congratulations to Ireland. It was a great game for the full 80. They really tested us, but I’m so proud of the boys. 

“We speak about this being a brotherhood, and stuff did go wrong today. It could have been easy to slip into our shell, but we stuck in it. 

“The set piece had a good day for us, but credit as well to our back line, who have been great all tournament, taking opportunities and scoring tries. It was a full team performance that got us over the line.”

Ireland took an early seven-point lead in the opening exchange with Hugh Gavin cutting a hard line off a lineout on the England 22’ breaking through the defence. He got an out-the-back-hand offload to his trailing scrum-half Oliver Coffey, who went in under the sticks.

England responded well by getting downfield and showed their forward dominance with an early scrum that demolished the Irish pack, pushing them back over their own line. 

The Irish launched another set play from a dangerous lineout peeling round at the front. Still, the desperate effort in defence from Ben Redshaw and Craig Wright denied them a second try-scoring opportunity.

England attempted to score their first points from a penalty kick, but Sean Kerr uncharacteristically missed the target.

Luckily, England finally got their try after a nice set of phase play. The ball came wide to Ben Redhsaw, who chose the right option giving it to a free-wheeling hooker on the wing in, Craig Wright, who finished the try-off.

The Irish responded quickly, taking back the lead by opting for the safe option of three points from Jack Murphy’s boot after England conceded an offside penalty. 

The lead didn’t last long, with England entering straight back into the Irish half, and a spellbinding line by fullback Ioan Jones sent Ollie Allen through for the score.

The game went back and forth, with sides trading scores. Ireland worked their way downfield and kept the ball close, going through the phases until flanker Bryn Ward eventually went over.

The Irish conceded a coach killer of a penalty straight on the kick-off for crossing, which Sean Kerr made the most of this time slotting the three.

The ping pong penalties continued; this time, England conceded one off the kick-off, going off their feet at the breakdown, and Jack Murphy once again was flawless from the tee.

England finished the half with a try after a hectic back and forth, with Allen throwing a missed pass over to Sean Kerr, who dove in close at the wing, allowing the English to go in at the break with a two-point lead.

The second half started with just as much pace as the first ended, with both sides coming out of the sheds with a scary ferocity. 

Irish captain Brian Gleeson was issued an early warning for his side due to consistent penalties for not rolling away. Sean Kerr took the most of the opportunity to extend England’s narrow lead, slotting another penalty.

Ireland quickly won a turnover penalty just short of the halfway line inside the England half. Fly-half Jack Murphy backed himself but pushed it just to the right, allowing England to exit.

The English worked their way back downfield and earned yet another scrum. The second shove once again proved far too powerful, driving Ireland’s pack and winning a penalty. Sean Kerr remained true again and pushed their lead beyond a converted try.

Even with the replacements on, the English scrum dominance continued smashing back the Irish once again. This time, Kerr put the ball to the corner instead of taking the points. The driving maul was halted just short, but they continued their physicality until the Irish escaped, conceding more points after a neck roll.

England controlled the game well as it entered the closing stages. Time started slipping away for Ireland to have any chance of coming back and winning the game.

Junior Kpoku won a turnover in the 79^th minute, injuring himself in the process, but Kerr went for the posts to close the game out, running the clock down before taking his kick and slotting it in the process to send them to the final.

It was a big disappointment for the Irish side who narrowly lost out to the Six Nations title to England earlier this year. Captain Brian Gleeson said at full-time, “We are very disappointed. I’m very proud of my team. It was a very tough game, but credit to England. 

“Obviously, they got on top of us at the set piece, but our lads gave everything we could.”

A day of destiny awaits England in Cape Town next week as they reach a final thanks to impressive performances from their pack and the boot of Sean Kerr.

England:

Jones, Redshaw, Hall, Kerr, Wills, Coen, Allan; Opoku-Fordjour, Wright, Fasogbon, Bailey, Kpoku, Cardiff (c), Pollock, Michelow.

Replacements: Isaacs, Miell, Halliwell, Sodeke, James, Friday, Bellamy, Cousins.

Ireland:

O’Connor, Treacy, De Klerk, Gavin, McLaughlin, Murphy, Coffey; Howard, Sheahan, Bell, Spicer, Mckillop, Edogbo, Gleeson (c)

Replacements: Smyth, Calvey, Bell, Corrigan, Murphy, Brophy, Naughton, Berman