Ireland 26 Scotland 21:IRELAND WEATHERED a late Scottish storm at Anglesea Road last night with an 11-point haul from Craig Ronaldson crucial.
The outhalf missed just two conversions but, when the visitors were closing in on the Irish lead, kicked a late pressure penalty.
Ronaldson landed an early penalty and on 22 minutes Barry O’Mahony crossed for a try. Moments later Scotland’s Fraser Thomson had the pace to make his way over the line.
Lee Millar converted and following another penalty from Ronaldson, O’Mahony raced clear for the line. Ronaldson converted for a half-time 18-7 lead.
Roger McBurney touched down for Ireland’s third try on 54 minutes before back-to-back Scottish tries from Seán Crombie and Rory McKay. Ronaldson then landed a penalty on 73 minutes
IRELAND: R McBurney; C Aherne, K Lett, M Kelliher, C Quinn; C Ronaldson, G Hurley; R Sweeney, G Slattery, C Condon, P Donnellan, Walsh, S Crawford, B OMahony, H Hogan. Replacements: F Cogan for Hogan (38), L Óg Murphy for Condon (48 mins), R Byrne for Slattery (61 mins), B Keeshan for Ronaldson (74 mins), H McGrath for Crawford (77 mins).
SCOTLAND: F Thomson; C Anderson, R Curle, D Kelbrick, D Fife; L Millar, R Sneddon; J Cox, S Crombie, A Brown, S Sutherland, R McKay, G Dodds, R Colhoun, R Weston. Replacements: N Dymock for Cox (50 mins), G Holborn for Brown (50 mins), D Gilmour for Kelbrick (65 mins), R Hawkins for Sutherland (55 mins), A Rose for Dodds (55 mins) M Ward for Sneddon (65 mins), F Brown for Crombie (65 mins).
Referee: L Pearse (RFU).
