England beat Ireland in Junior World Championship opener

England beat Ireland in the Junior World Championship Pool C opener in Tbilisi, holding off a late Ireland surge to win 31-24. England scored four tries through Jimmy Staples, James Pater and Will Knight, plus a penalty try, with penalties and conversions by Hugh Shields. Ireland replied with three tries from Daniel Ryan (a first-half double and a hat-trick), and further scores from a Seb Kelly yellow-card sequence and replacement Jack Deegan. The match swung after Ireland were hit by sin-bins and yellow cards, including Dylan McNeice and Ben Blaney. Ryan was denied a fourth try by a TMO ruling he was held up on the line. Ireland reduced the deficit to four but Tom Wood missed key conversions before Shields’ penalty sealed the result. England next play the United States; Ireland face Argentina after its 78-14 win over the USA.