Scotland U18s won the inaugural U18 Six Nations Festival on Sunday with their third successive win – a 19-17 success over Ireland at Cardiff Arms Park.
The Scots had already beaten England and France in their opening two matches and maintained their 100 per cent win success on Sunday afternoon.
There was also a 27-18 win for Wales over Italy while France scored 14 points in the closing few minutes to turn around a four-point deficit and win 24-14 against England.
Scotland hold on against Ireland
Scotland lifted the trophy but they had to withstand a major Irish fightback after they had scored three tries to move 19 points clear.
Dot downs from Conor Boyle, Robbie McCallum and Alex Pleasants, along with two conversions from Nathan Chamberlain, were just enough to ensure Scotland remained unbeaten.
The Irish hit back with tries from Karl Martin and replacement Ben Murphy with Nathan Doak attempting a 35-metre drop goal to win the game in one of the final moves of the match.
The hero in Ireland’s opening match, when he kicked a penalty to beat Italy 20-17 right at the death, he was unable to hit the mark this time.
Knott at the double for Wales
The Italians were on a high following their win over England and their big pack and solid defence saw them take the lead after only five minutes through Ratko Jelic.
Welsh skipper Will Griffiths replied for the hosts before penalties either side of the break by full-back Michele Peruzzo allowed Italy to sneak into a 13-7 lead.
Lloyd hauled back three points with a penalty and then replacement centre Osian Knott dived over after great diving line-out by Wales had stretched the Italian defensive line.
Scrum half Dafydd Buckland added a third but Sam Costelow missed the conversion leaving the game delicately poised at 20-13.
Italy’s replacement hooker Tomas Rosario crossed wide out to reduce the deficit to two points but Paulo Garbisi missed the chance to draw level.
A second try to Knott, converted by Costelow, eased Welsh nerves as they secured their second win of the U18 Six Nations festival.
Brosset inspires France to victory
Having lost their opening two games by six points to Scotland and two points to Italy, England were hoping to end their Festival with a win.
After an early Remi Brosset penalty a wonderful break down the right flank by the full back and Romain Fusier ended in a brilliant score for the centre Maxime Espeut.
England got on the scoreboard when back row man JJ Tonks took a neat offload at a ruck and found a gaping hole ahead of him and raced 15 metres to score with Josh Hodge converting.
Replacement prop Will Montgomery powered over from close range to give England the lead with Hodge adding the extras to make it 14-10.
But quick hands from the French allowed Brosset to send No.8 Jordan Joseph storming through the final two tacklers to score before a penalty try secured the win for France.
U18 Six Nations Festival 2018
Round 1: 31 March – Ystrad Mynach Scotland 33-27 England Wales 14-22 France Ireland 20-17 Italy
Round 2: 4 April – Cardiff Arms Park Italy 32-30 England Ireland 28-36 Wales France 21-24 Scotland
Round 3: 8 April – Cardiff Arms Park Ireland 17-19 Scotland Italy 18-27 Wales France 24-14 England
