England Hold On

Despite dominating the second half, Ireland went down 17-13 to England Saxons at The Recreation Ground in Bath this afternoon

Paddy Wallace kicked two first half penalties and the try that brought Ireland right back into the game came in the 62nd minute after England had been reduced to 14 – when replacement Chris Henry raced in from a five metre scrum.

Wallace converted but England survived by the skin of their teeth at times before Shane Geraghty landed his sde’s only score of the second half with a last minute penalty.

The Northampton Saints out-half scored an opening half try and in the 72nd minute got a vital ankle tap on the flying Fionn Carr as he raced for the Saxons line.

Ireland ‘A’ : G Duffy; F Carr, F McFadden (I Humphreys 68 min), K Matthews (D Cave 54 min), I Dowling; P Wallace, P Stringer (I Boss 62 min); M Horan, R Best ( Fogarty ht), T Buckley (M Ross 62 min); M O’Driscoll capt (R Caldwell ht), D Toner; S Jennings, S O’Brien, J Muldoon (C Henry 55 min).

England Saxons: A Goode (Saracens); D Strettle (Harlequins, D Waldouck (Wasps), B Barritt, N Cato (both Saracens); S Geraghty (Northampton), B Youngs (Leicester); N Wood (Gloucester), D Paice (London Irish), P Doran-Jones; D Attwood (both Gloucester), G Skivington (Wasps, capt); T Wood (Worcester), A Saull (Saracens), P Dowson (Northampton). Reps: T Mercey (Saracens), R Webber (Wasps), G Parling (Leicester), L Narraway (Gloucester), M Young (Newcastle), J Clarke (Northampton), M Benjamin (Worcester).