Fellow Ospreys Academy talent Alun-Wyn Jones went over in the first half to give Wales U21 a lead they never let slip. Hook also converted both tries, proving crucial as Ireland U21 hit back with an injury-time through Fergus Carr. Ireland U21 were reduced to fourteen men as early as the third minute when David Toner was sent to the sin bin for stamping.
Yet it was Ireland U21 who led through a Conan Doyle penalty when the second-row returned ten minutes later. That did not stop the Wales U21 pack from dominating their opponents for the lion’s share of the first half. Carmarthen’s Dominic Day was immense in the line-out while the front row had Ireland U21’s scrum in knots.
Neath half-backs Martin Roberts and James Hook always looked threatening and it was a moment of class from the outside-half that set up Wales U21’s opening try. Hook’s one-handed pick-up rescued a Welsh attack, after Tom Riley had dropped the ball, to send Scarlets academy wing Darren Daniel motoring down the right-hand wing.
Daniel’s lightning pace took Wales U21 to within touching distance of the try line. When Day collected Duane Goodfield’s line-out, Alun-Wyn Jones rumbled over on 28 minutes. Hook converted from out wide, but for all their possession, Wales U21 failed to make a greater impact on the scoreboard and their game collapsed before the break when Day and then prop Phil Osbourne both saw yellow cards in the space of four minutes before the break.
Doyle punished the first foul but saw his second effort strike the post to leave Wales U21 7-6 ahead until the final minute of the game. Rhys Shellard’s neat pass sent Hook storming under the posts to finally see off Ireland U21 in the 79th minute. Hook added the conversion and it proved vital as Carr rounded off a stunning final attack by Ireland U21.
