French Universities made it 16 wins from 18 clashes when they defeated Irish Universities at Crowley Park, Galway, yesterday. Ireland's defeat certainly was not the fault of Dublin University outhalf Mark McHugh who contributed 24 points.
The Irish took a 6-0 lead by the 9th minute through two penalties from McHugh, but on 11 minutes the French had their first try from right wing Mathieu Dourthe. Ireland went 11-5 ahead after 13 minutes with a try by McHugh but the French kept in touch with a try shortly afterwards by number eight Jean-Marie Bisaro. After a Colin Healy try was answered in kind by another from Dourthe and McHugh added a further penalty, Ireland led 19-15 at the break.
McHugh's second try after 50 minutes, which he converted, made it 29-20 for the host side. France, however, turned on the style with tries from Dourthe and Nallet and two penalties and a conversion from Jelez.
Scorers: Irish Universities: M McHugh 2 tries, 4 pens, con; C Healy try; French Univer- sities: M Dourthe 3 tries; J M Bisaro, J Tilloles, L Nallet try each; F Jelez 2 pens, 1 con.
Irish Universities: C Healy (UCC); S Doggett (UCD), P Barry (UCC), A O'Shea (UCC), D Holt (UCC); M McHugh (TCD), D Mescal (NUIG); A McSweeney (UCC), J Flannery (UCC), R McCormack (UCD), J Fitz- gerald (UCC), C King (UCD), T Cahill (UCC), W Robb (TCD), G Cantwell (UCD, capt). REPLACEMENTS: K Murphy (TCD) for Flannery (inj, 42 mins), A Kearney (UCD) for Fitzgerald (46 mins), B Archbold (QUB) for Holt (72 mins).
French Universities: Y Dury; M Dourthe, S Rouque, J Berthe, J Dalla Riva; F Gelez, J Tilloles; O Milloud, C Laurent, F Averous, M Cadic, N Spanghero, A Audebert, J M Bisaro, L Nallet. Replacement: A Peyrot for Berthe (78 mins).
Referee: E Walsh (ARCB).
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