Ireland School's - 9 Wales School's - 3:School's International: For the first time since the French Schools replaced the Scottish in the Schools Championship four years ago, Ireland were crowned champions after a hard-fought win over Wales at Narbeth yesterday.
This was a heroic performance in defence. The Irish had first use of the wind and set about building a lead worth holding onto. In the fifth minute outhalf Fergal Lawlor was on the end of a pass from scrumhalf Duncan Williams from a scrum to strike a drop goal.
The forwards, expertly led by blindside and captain Chris Henry, had an insatiable appetite for hard work. Second row Ross Noonan and loosehead Alex O'Sullivan, allied to the thoughtful contributions of openside Gavin Murphy and number eight Kevin McLaughlin, kept the Irish in the ascendancy.
Full back Eamon Fitzgerald gave the forwards further encouragement with two penalties, both from near the 10-metre line, in the 14th and 18th minutes.
Ireland went in at the interval with a 9-0 lead to protect and how they relished the Welsh onslaught on resumption of play as outhalf Greg McCarthy pinned the Irish back with astute kicking. In the 45th minute, McCarthy slotted a penalty to reduce the leeway to 9-3. However, Ireland met fire with fire, turning back the Welsh at every turn.
IRELAND SCHOOLS: E Fitzgerald (Belvedere); S Grissing (St Mary's), A Trimble (Coleraine AI), M Scott (Methodist), C McNaughton (Rockwell); F Lawlor (Cistercian College), D Williams (CBC Cork); A O'Sullivan (PBC Bray), J Coady (Blackrock), A Kirkpatrick (Ballymena Academy), R Noonan (CBC Cork), A Dunlop (Terenure), C Henry (Wallace HS, capt), G Murphy (Clongowes Wood), K McLaughlin (Gonzaga).
WALES SCHOOLS: G Morgan; S Davies, T Cheeseman, D Lockyer, C Czekaj; G McCarthy, D Walsh; A Davies, D George, S Roberts, W Waldron, A Jones, A Murphy, R Nash, A Whitney.
Referee: R Debney (England)
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