23-02-2025
Van Poortvliet stars as England A beat Ireland
England A: (14) 28Tries: Hassell-Collins, Van Poortvliet, Fisilau, penalty Cons: Atkinson 3Ireland A: (5) 12Tries: Bolton, Gavin Con: Doak
Jack van Poortvliet scored an impressive solo try as England A beat Ireland A at a soggy Ashton Gate in hosts raced into the lead as Ollie Hassell-Collins latched on to a clever tip-on pass by Charlie Atkinson to dive over in the corner, before Ireland hit back through Shayne Bolton out Frawley's missed conversion meant England held a slender advantage before captain Van Poortvliet, who has 16 Test caps, sniped through a gap in the Irish defence and rounded the fly-half to were wasteful with opportunities after the interval but did eventually stretch their lead when Greg Fisilau came off the bench to exploit more Irish shortcomings at the breakdown before running clear for the hosts' third game was seemingly assured but the visitors remained resolute and claimed a late consolation try when Hugh Gavin powered over from close centre's try reduced the deficit to nine points in the final stages but England had the final say with a last-gasp penalty try after Irish captain Max Deegan was adjudged to have deliberately knocked on Jack Kenningham's pass to Hassell-Collins.
Line-ups
England A: Carpenter; Elliott, Ojomoh, Butt, Hassell-Collins; Atkinson, Van Poortvliet; Brantingham, Langdon, Kloska, Tizard, Lockett, Pearson, Kenningham, Oghre, Haffar, Green, Capstick, Fisilau, Porter, Shillcock, A: Daly; O'Brien, Postlethwaite, Gavin, Bolton; Frawley, Doak; O'Toole, Barron, Aungier, O'Connell, Murray, Deegan (capt), Kendellen, Smyth, McCarthy, Jager, O'Tighearnaigh, Soroka, Gunne, Byrne, Gleeson.
