WALES STUDENTS 20 IRELAND STUDENTS 42

By Ian Golden,

At Edinburgh University

 

Wales Students go into the final game of the Four Nations Championship needing a 29-point win over reigning champions England to have any chance of winning the title, following a 40-24 defeat to Ireland on Wednesday.

 

Coach Latham Tahwai made a few changes to the team that beat Scotland on Monday in order to combat fatigue and balance the workload of three games in the space of a week, however it was the Irish who responded better – racing into a 18-0 lead.

 

Wales’ shaky start was most visible from defending high bombs, as Ireland’s first two tries came from Wales spilling the ball allowing Matt Cahoon and then Jordan Hylton to score.  James Kelly converted all three.

 

Ben Alexander then got the first of his two tries out of dummy half, before Fraser Robinson found Tom Davies in space to reduce the deficit to 18-4.

 

Having found their feet somewhat, Wales struck back once more as Connor Davies offloaded to Harry Boots who forced his way over from close range.

 

However, after a Liam Rice-Wilson try and Cobi Green conversion had brought Wales to within four points, Hylton again proved an aerial threat as he tapped the ball back for Elliot Munnelly to dive over.

 

A competitive first half then spilled over, as Wales’ Marcus Webb and Conor Mackey of Ireland were both sin-binned, and it was the boys in green who eventually took advantage of the extra space.

 

Davies got his second after Wales moved the ball from right to left, Green converting, but Alexander quickly matched his efforts by getting his second try from short range.

 

Eathon Moloney extended Ireland’s lead after collecting a James Kelly grubber, before the pair linked up again as Kelly put Moloney through a gap in the defensive line to extend the lead to 38-20.

 

Wing Matt Connolly rounded up proceedings with a try from a Ryan Healey chip, but Wales must now regroup ahead of Saturday’s encounter with England.

 

England made it two wins out of two in the tournament, beating Scotland 40-10.

 

WALES

1 Fraser Robinson

2 Evan Wynne

3 Ieuan Jones

4 Lloyd Selby-Smith

21 Tom Davies

6 Marcus Webb

18 Cobi Green

13 Sion Jones

7 Curtis Davies

10 Harry Boots

11 Tom Morgan

15 Matt Davies

14 Connor Davies

Subs:

9 Liam Rice-Wilson

16 Liam Cashman

12 Chris Jones

2 Lewis Hughes

8 Brandon Lamb

 

Tries: T Davies (20, 38), Boots (23), Rice-Wilson (28)

Goals: Webb 0/2, Green 2/2

Sin-bin: Webb (32)

 

IRELAND

1 Ethen Moloney

2 Matt Connolly

3 Richie McHugh

4 Alan McMahon

5 Jordan Hylton

6 Elliott Munnelly

7 James Kelly

8 Sam Boyd

9 Ryan Guilfoyle

10 Andrew Keating

11 Ben Alexander

12 Ben O’Ryan

13 Matt Camoun

Subs:

14 Paddy Healy

15 Aaron Murray

16 Wayne Kelly

17 Ryan Healy

18 Conor Mackey

 

Tries: Cahoon (4), Hylton (6), Alexander (12, 40), Munnelly (30), Molony (54, 70), Connolly (74)

Goals: Kelly 5/8

Sin bin: Mackey (32)

 

Half-time 20-28