Ireland U20s 6 - Wales U20s 11
Wales Under 20s prepare for their final U20 Six Nations showdown against France at Rodney Parade this Friday (kick-off 7.10pm) following a vital win over their Irish counterparts, giving Wales their third straight win in the tournament this season.
After home wins over Scotland and Italy, Patrick Horgan rotated his troops with seven changes and it worked a treat with a committed performance in Athlone.
Ireland took an early advantage within ten minutes when fly half Martin Dufficy steered home a comfortable penalty.
But Patrick Horgan's side responded three minutes later and Josh Turnbull's half break came closest to claiming the first try of the match.
Wales chipped away at Ireland's try line but wing Halfpenny was denied his fourth try in as many matches in the competition by David Kearney's covering defence after Dan Biggar's chip through.
Ireland's plucky defence was proving effective as Wales' frustration to convert territory and possession into points began to boil over.
Biggar saw his drop goal attempt on 25 minutes charged down by Chris Cochrane.
But Wales got the score their possession deserved on the half hour mark when Ospreys' Gareth Owen's long pass cut out hooker Rhys Lawrence and Phillips pounced on the ball to score.
Halfpenny missed the conversion and Dufficy also pulled a penalty wide but Ireland's fly half made no mistake five minutes before half time with a long range strike.
Wales emerged from the break with renewed vigour and Halfpenny slotted home two penalties to put the Dragons five points clear.
And despite a late siege of pressure from Ireland following lock Haydn Pugh and flanker Turnbull's yellow cards for persistent foul play, the visitors' clung on to hand Wales the perfect start to a crucial weekend of rugby.
Scorers: Ireland: pens; Dufficy (2)
Wales: try: Phillips, pens; Halfpenny (2)
Ireland: David Kearney (Lansdowne), Sean Scanlon (UCC), Eoin O'Malley (Old Belvedere), Conor Cleary (Greystones), Chris Cochrane (Queens University), Martin Dufficy (Dublin University) (Ian Madigan Blackrock College 66), David Moore (Blackrock College) (Ian Porter Queen's University 49), Paul Karayiannis (Queens University), Jason Harris-Wright (Greystones) (Stephen Archer UCC 67), Ben Barclay (UCD) (Stephen Douglas Ballymena 67), David Nolan Galwegians, Eoin Sheriff (Lansdowne), Kieran Essex (U.L. Bohemians) (Ian Nagle UCC 54), Paul Ryan (capt, Blackrock College), Patrick Mallon (Lansdowne)
Replacements: Trevor Connelly (Buccaneers), Eamonn Sheridan (Lansdowne)
Wales: Daniel Evans (Scarlets); Leigh Halfpenny (Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) (Rhys Williams Scarlets 66), Gareth Owen (Ospreys), Nathan Rees (Blues); Daniel Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys); Ryan Bevington (Ospreys) (Sam Hobbs Blues 62), Rhys Lawrence (Ospreys) (Ryan Prosser Bristol 62), Patrick Palmer (Blues) (Scott Andrews Blues 56), Jevon Groves (capt, Blues), Haydn Pugh (Scarlets), Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), Nicholas Cudd (Scarlets), Lloyd Phillips (Scarlets) (Justin Tipuric Ospreys 62)
Replacements: Ashley Sweet (Dragons), Luke Evans (Blues)
Yellow Card: Hadyn Pugh 59, Josh Turnbull 73
Referee: A Falzone (Italy)
