DIGEST: UNDER-21 WORLD CUP After the disappointment of two opening losses against France and Argentina, Ireland finally recorded a first win in the Under-21 World Championship, beating Georgia 47-0 in front of 5,200 spectators in Issoire on Saturday.
Ireland were too organised, too strong and ultimately too much for Georgia and won despite losing four players to the sin-bin during the match.
The Irish dominated from the outset, hooker Stuart Philpott scoring early on from a well constructed maul before Duncan Williams' effort doubled the lead.
Georgia enjoyed periods of territorial advantage but were never able to make them pay and, by stark contrast, the Irish converted their chances well and Darren Cave scored from a well-worked lineout to give them a 19-0 half-time lead.
The second half brought much of the same medicine. Centre Fergus McFadden attacked with fury and Philpott scored a second try. Georgia fought bravely and - to the crowd's delight - kept penalties in hand but Ireland's defence stood firm and Cave broke on the counter for a 33-0 lead.
Ireland's indiscipline brought two further yellow cards, but despite being outnumbered they still managed to score two final tries through Ian Hanly and substitute Sean Cronin.
SOUTH AFRICA v SCOTLAND: Disenchanted Scotland supremo Frank Hadden renewed his criticism of English referee Tony Spreadbury, claiming the official's display in Port Elizabeth on Saturday deprived them of their first Test triumph in South Africa.
The coach claims Spreadbury's verdicts cost the Scots a total of 14 points and were the prime reasons for the Boks completing a 29-15 win and 2-0 series success.
After studying the incidents on tape, Hadden said he was even more convinced his side had been given the rough end of the stick claiming a try by Chris Paterson should not have been chalked off in the sequence which led to the home score that effectively clinched the game. South Africa relied on six penalties from Percy Montgomery and a try from Fourie du Preez while the Scots had tries from Paterson and Donnie Macfadyen.
ARGENTINA v WALES: Wales lock Ian Evans has received a six-week suspension after being cited for an incident in Saturday's 45-27 second Test defeat to Argentina in Buenos Aires.
The suspension will run from the date of the Ospreys player's first official friendly match in August. The citing was brought against Evans for 'reckless and dangerous play' and came as a result of a late charge on Argentinian skipper Agustin Pichot.
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