Ireland lose in thriller at Brisbane
A DRAMATIC late winner saw the opening match in the 2005 Student Rugby
League world off to a cracking start.

The rains of the build up period were replaced by sunshine as the two sides
locked horns at the Griffith University campus in Brisbane, Australia.

And within three minutes of the match starting Pacific Islands’ Wil Wilshire
was on the end of some fine build up play to open up their account.

Sione Fukofuka’s conversion attempt hit the cross bar but came back. It only
took the Irish four minutes to go ahead when Luke Garnett’s try was
converted by Gareth Simpson.

But that 4-0 lead was short-lived as tries by John Reese and Bobby Makau
were both converted by Sione Fukofuka to see the Islands 16-6 in front.

Keith Armstrong closed the gap on 17 minutes with a try following some good
work from James Giblin and although Adam Walsh missed with the conversion
attempt the gap was down to six points at 16-10.

The Islands side edged further in front on 21 minutes when Liu Famate
crossed the line for Sione Fukafuka to convert and seven minutes later
Junior Alesina touched down, with Fukofuka converting to make the score
17-10.

Before the break Ireland hhad hit back with tries from Luke Garnett and
James Giblin, both converted by Gareth Simpson to keep the boys in green in
touch at 26-22.

David Tronc edged the Islands side further ahead with an unconverted try in
the fifth minute of the second half and Bruno Schwartz made it 36-22 when
Josh Stowers converted on 53 minutes.

Sione Fukfuka and Paul O’Connor traded tries and conversions to see the
Islands side 42-28 ahead just after the hour.Ireland’s man of the match
Paul O’Connor popped up in the 66th minute to make it 42-32 in the 66th
minute and Danny Shaw’s conversion made it 42-34.

Liam Julian closed the gap even further with 10 minutes to go when Shaw
converted Julian’s attempt to make the score 42-40.

Then came the dramatic finale when Ireland’s Steve Smith put them into a
72nd minute lead and Smith’s conversion took the score to 46-42 in the Irish
favour.

Four minutes later there was a brawl after an alleged flop in the tackle by
Ireland.

Luke Garnett and an Islander were sin binned and from the resulting penalty
the ball was moved and right on the