With the final match of their tour - next Wednesday's Test against Australia Universities - looming large, the Irish Universities were heavily defeated by Sydney University yesterday. This was a second defeat in six matches for the Irish, who also lost the opening game of their tour, against Northern Territory at Darwin last month.

The game was quickly beyond their reach, as the Sydney side piled on four tries and a goal within the first 30 minutes. An unconverted try by left wing Daragh McElligott just before half-time briefly stopped the rot, but Sydney led by 27-5 at the interval. The home team added two more goals before Conor Kilroy converted his own try, and then added the points to the Irish Universities' third try, scored late in the game by full-back and captain Robin Morrow.

Irish Universities: R Morrow (QUB) capt.; C Kilroy (UCG), A O'Shea (UCC), P Stewart (QUB), D McElligott (DU); R Wallace (DU), P Stringer (UCC); B Hall (QUB), H O'Neill (UCC), J McKee (DU), W Robb (DU), M O'Driscoll (UCC), P Lynch (UCG), R Dunlop (QUB), C Kehelly (UCC). Replacement: J Kelly (UCC) for McElligott (47 mins).