England Under-20s suffered heartbreak in the last minute of their Six Nations Summer Series clash against Ireland on Tuesday.

Leading 36-34 in the dying embers of the contest, Ireland’s Sam Prendergast kicked a late penalty to turn the game on its head.

Ethan Staddon was making his first start for his country at Under-20s level with Ewan Richards continuing in a starting lock role.

Hooker John Stewart and utility back Sam Harris made their seventh and second caps respectively while Tom Carr-Smith, who featured for England for a sixth time, made a great impact when he arrived on the field.

Shortly after Stewart’s pinpoint throw at the line-out led to a score, the scrum-half’s quick tap and go put the Irish defence under pressure before his pass set up the phase in which Newcastle Falcon’s Iwan Stephens crossed in the corner to level the match at 31-31.

The side’s exchanged a penalty and a try which meant England held a slender lead going into the final few minutes where Prendergast clinched Ireland victory.

England U20 defeated by late Irish penalty

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