Sport

Ireland avoid relegation fight

Under-19 world Championship/Ireland 31 Japan 18: Ireland negotiated what threatened to be a difficult match at Glenwood High…

Thu Apr 14 2005 - 01:00

Under-19 world Championship/Ireland 31 Japan 18: Ireland negotiated what threatened to be a difficult match at Glenwood High School in Durban yesterday to leave them contesting the 9th/10th positions in the final round of the IRB World Championship on Sunday.

Their opponents will be Scotland, who have found their form, scoring four tries to defeat a physical Georgia side by 32-10.

Defeat yesterday would have meant Ireland playing to avoid relegation on Sunday, but happily for the Irish side - and for the team that will play in next year's competition - that scenario has been avoided.

"It's a huge relief for us," said Ireland Under-19 manager Michael Cunningham.

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"The last thing we wanted in our final match was a dogfight. Today was a win-win game for us and we came through it well."

Ireland produced a five-try tally in subduing a lively Japan who at times caused problems for the Irish. But Ireland effectively had the game won by half-time when they led 26-6 with tries by openside flanker Barry O'Mahony, wing Dale Black, outhalf Killian Lett and centre Fergus McFadden, two of them converted by fullback Rob Kearney and a third by McFadden.

With the game won, Ireland made a number of changes to save players for their final round game on Sunday and in the event lost some of the composure they achieved in the first half.

"We have to be pleased with this performance, however," added Cunningham. "We scored three tries in the space of 15 minutes in the first half, and if we had been able to do that in other matches then we would not have been in the situation of fending off possible relegation."

IRELAND UNDER-19: R Kearney (UCD); E Moloney (Blackrock), F McFadden (Clongowes), D Cave (Upper Sullivan), D Black (Portadown); K Lett (UCD), M D'Arcy (Dublin University); C Black (Hartpury), G O'Meara (Lansdowne), K Griffin (Shannon); D McGowan (Buccaneers), D Toner (Lansdowne); A Saunderson (Ballyclare), B O'Mahony (Crescent Comp), D Laffan (Dublin University). Replacements: C Muldoon (Galwegians), R Boles (Colston), K Moloney (Blackrock), K Earls (St Munchin's), D O'Reilly (Blackrock College), G Walsh (UL Bohs), F Walsh (UCC).