Ireland 24 Italy 19Ireland's Under-21s snatched a last-gasp win over their Italian counterparts at Henley Hawks rugby club, Oxfordshire, yesterday when winger Richard Lane went over for a try in the seventh minute of injury time.
On a hot and humid afternoon, with the temperature in the 70s, and fitness levels sorely tested, it was a credit to both sides that they produced a good game.
The teams were level, 7-7, at half-time before Ireland stretched their lead to 19-7 before the end of the third quarter.
Italy came back to draw level four minutes before the end and it looked as if the match would run to extra time of 10 minutes each way.
But as the game ran into injury time Ireland's captain, Michael Rainey, tried a 40-metre drop goal after lock David Gannon had stolen Italian ball at a breakdown. Rainey's kick was high and long but just failed to meet the target.
Ireland , not to be denied, then won a lineout near halfway and put in one of their best passing moves, with backs and forwards involved, before the ball was passed to Lane. He made progress up the right touch line, rode a strong tackle and then dived over the line.
Both sides had opened cautiously, testing each other with long kicks downfield. Ireland gradually took control and had a number of opportunities, including one when full back Tommy Bowe was put away on the left with the line in sight but the pass was slightly forward.
Italy had rarely been within striking distance of the Irish line, but a minute into injury time tight-head Claudio Rosso drove at the Irish defence. Full back Mirco Bergamasco, carried on the move before putting Valerie Santillo in for the try. Outhalf Mercato added the conversion points.to make it 7-7 at half-time.
Ireland started well after the change round and just a minute into the half, centre Barry Murphy opened up a gap in the middle and with the line in sight his pass to Keith Matthews, now playing on the left wing, failed to go to hand.
Five minutes later number eight Kieran Potts got Ireland's second try following a drive from a lineout.
Scrumhalf Conor O'Loughlin went over for his side's third try from a similar move and Rainey converted that for a 19-7 lead.
Then Bergamasco, now at centre, showed strength and pace when he shook off the tackles to go in for a try. Italy took a leaf out of Ireland's book when number eight Sergio Parisse took the ball at an Italian lineout five metres out and with the help of his pack got the touchdown.
Andreo Brancoli levelled the score when he converted from wide out.
Then came Lane's saver for Ireland when everyone, including the spectators, were really beginning to feel the heat.
So Ireland clinched their ninth ranking place for the next Under-21 World Cup.
Scores (Irish first): 33 mins - Telford try, Rainey 7-0; 40 mins - Santillo try, Marcato con 7-7; 45 mins - Potts try 12-7; 53 mins - C McLoughlin try, Rainey con 19-7; 57 mins - Bergamasco try 19-12; 76 mins - Parisse try, Brancoli con 19-19; 80 mins - Lane try 24-19
IRELAND: Bowe; K Matthews, B Murphy, G Telford, J Hearty (R Lane, half-time); M Rainey (capt), C McLoughlin; J Moran, R Best (K Corrigan 13-19 mins, blood), D Fitzpatrick (E McGovern, half-time), D Gannon, N McComb, J Muldoon (M McCornish 69 min), N Ronan, C Potts, (D Geraghty 75 mins).
ITALY: M Bergamasco; L Nitoglia, M Barbini, F Ghidini, V Santillo; A Marcato (G Malipiero, 60 min repl, A Chillon 64 min), S Picone (capt, A Brancoli 43 min); F Sbaraglini (L Persico 43 mins), L Ferraro (N Maio 53-55 mins, blood), C Russo, M Montani, M Aldridge; G Arganese, A Pavanello (M Rizzo 43 mins); S Parisse.
Referee: David Changleng (Scotland)
