Jack O’Sullivan scored two tries as Ireland Under-20s eventually saw off a stubborn Scottish challenge 30-25 to take their second win of the Under-20s Six Nations.
After their narrow defeat to Wales last time out, the Irish made the perfect start, leading 18-6 at the break but Scotland were back to within five points with ten minutes remaining.
That is when O’Sullivan popped up for his second try of the game to end Scottish hopes.
The home side had made the perfect start with a great Michael Silvester break setting up O’Sullivan to power his way over. Harry Byrne continued his fine kicking record in the Under-20s Six Nations with the conversion to make it 7-0.
He then added two penalties to stretch the lead to 13-0 for the home side.
Scotland were struggling to match the intensity that they had shown against England when they came from behind to win their first match, but they started to grow into the game, with Ross Thompson slotting three points after Ireland were slow rolling away just in front of their own line.
He added another just after the half-hour following a great break from skipper Robbie Smith, cutting the deficit back to seven points.
Silvester was proving a real danger when attacking from deep though, and it was from one loose kick that he raced 50 metres up into the Scottish 22.
O’Sullivan was held up just over the line once the ball had been recycled, but from the resulting scrum he picked and went. While the Scottish defence stopped him, Matthew Agnew was in support to force his way over. Byrne was off-target with his conversion attempt this time but Ireland led 18-6 at the break.
Scotland needed to score first in the second half, and they did just that as Angus Kernohan could not collect a grubber through.
Instead it was Scottish winger Kyle Rowe who took advantage of the bouncing ball to dot down the try. Thompson was off-target with his conversion, but Scotland seemed to have the momentum.
They got back into the Irish 22, but the home side were able to turn it over, break back the other way and after another Silvester break, it was Matthew Dalton who got over. Byrne’s conversion went wide and Ireland led 23-11.
But that lead lasted barely a minute before Scotland hit back with a rolling maul, finished off by blindside flanker Martin Hughes. Thompson’s excellent conversion out cut the deficit back to five points.
It was anyone’s game but seven minutes from time Ireland wrapped up both the win and the bonus point. It was the impressive O’Sullivan once again who made the difference, bursting through midfield and racing over for his second try of the evening. Byrne’s conversion made it 30-18.
The Scots had the final word however, with replacement prop Nathan McBeth going over from close range to earn them a losing bonus point, with Thompson converting with the final kick.
