|
Wales qualified for the World Shield Final following an excellent second half performance in their 25-10 win over Ireland in Brisbane on Tuesday night. Both sides were able to name as many substitutes as they wanted to enable the full squads to have run out.
The match was littered with handling errors by both teams due to the slippery pitch conditions following an hour’s worth of rain beforehand. Completed sets of six were at a minimum, especially in the first half.
Ireland had the better of the first 15 minutes, throwing their all at the solid Welsh defence but were unable to find a way through.
It was Wales who took the lead slightly against the run of play in the 13th minute as Andrew Bond finished off a good passing move that involved Neil Davies and Gavin Curry.
Shaun Quinn leveled things up at 4-4 in the 21st minute after he broke through on the final tackle but Wales went into the break with an 11-4 lead after Jason Massey stormed in under the posts following another good passing move. Dean Scully converted the try then kicked a tactical fieldgoal just minutes before the hooter.
In the 44th minute, man-of-the-match, Matt Jackson set Dewi Scourfield up with a try under the posts while Jackson could have had one himself just minutes later but his 60 metre run was brought to a halt just metres from the line.
Wales wrapped up the match with two tries in five minutes. The first, the try of the match in the 58th minute was by Ben Smith after Dan ap Dafydd had skillfully knocked down Dean Scully’s pass.
Then after Jackson was tackled following an excellent weaving run, Pete Moore brilliantly ran through the defence at dummy half.
|
|
However, Ireland had the last word after strong pressure in the last ten minutes. Paul O’Connor was unlucky knocked to score after he was beaten to the ball following a Gaz Simpson grubber, but Ireland finally got a second half score with five minutes left on the clock after Adam Walsh converted his own try – a 70-metre run to the line.
But it was too little too late as Wales qualified to meet the Pacific Islands on Friday.
WALES: Matt Jackson, Andrew Bond, Geraint Davies, Austin Saunders, Ben Smith, Phil Carleton, Mark Dando, Gavin Curry, Dan ap Dafydd, Jason Massey, Gareth Thirsk, Neil Davies, Dennis Pugh. Subs (all used): Dean Scully, Pete Moore, Dewi Scourfield, Matt Drew, Gareth Morgan, Mark Burke, Neil Hesketh, Jonathan Brinkworth, Dave Roberson, Ross Olney.
Tries: Bond (13), Massey (30), Scourfield (44), Smith (58), Moore (62).
Goals: Scully 2/5. Fieldgoal: Scully
IRELAND: Paul O’Connor, Shaun Quinn, Keith Armstrong, Danny Shaw, Ste Smith, Adam Walsh, Jimmy Giblin, Matt Clarke, Phil Wood, Dave Bulmer, Luke Garnett, Paul Lane, Lian Julian. Subs (all used): James Gross, Dave Heathwood, Kieran McTaggart, Mark Molyneux, Ben Toleman, Gaz Simpson, Rich Mulrooney, Jon Clarke, Alex Gross, Dave Hudson, Chris Harwood.
Tries: Quinn (21), Walsh (75)
Goals: Walsh 1 / 2
Gamestar: Matt Jackson who made some excellent runs and was unlucky not to be rewarded with a try.
Gamebreaker: Tries from Ben Smith and Pete Moore in five second-half minutes gave Wales an unbeatable 21-point lead.
Men of the match:
Wales - Matt Jackson.
Ireland - Jimmy Giblin.
Referee: Matthew Hawkins (Australia). Half-time: 11-4
Article by Ian Golden
12 Jul 2005
|
News
