*Photograph: James Crombie / Inpho
CRATLOE’s Luke Murphy helped Ireland’s U20 rugby side to secure a share of the spoils with England by scoring a last-gasp try in Bath on Friday evening.
While a third Grand Slam in a row is no longer a reality for Ireland’s U20s, their unbeaten run which stretches back to July is still intact thanks to a try in the dying moments from Luke Murphy who powered over the posts for Ireland’s fifth try to ensure a 32-32 draw with neighbours England.
This results keeps Ireland’s hopes of winning the U20 6 Nations alive but the same applies for England. England are a point ahead but next weekend’s action will decide the champions, Ireland host Scotland and England are away to France.
Murphy powered over for the try on eighty three minutes with Sean Naughton nailing the conversion to rescue a draw for Richie Murphy’s side.
With three minutes to go, it looked like England had taken the spoils. Ben Waghorn crashed over in the corner and the impressive Sean Kerr kicked a huge conversion to put them into a seven-point lead.
Tries from Finn Treacy and Ben O’Connor had helped Ireland to a 15-13 half-time lead as they recovered from a poor start.
Newmarket-on-Fergus’ Emmet Calvey was not included in the matchday squad for the trip to Bath.
It will all come down to next weekend to decide who wins the U20 6 Nations Championship.
