THERE was a bit of luck about it but Ireland's victory over England at Musgrave Park on Saturday was still well deserved. Their win was forged through a combination of attacking skill and dogged defence. They had the ability to switch it on in both facets of play and that proved crucial in the end.
Ireland scored the only try and it was a score worthy of winning any game. It came from centre Conrad O'Sullivan, who was later awarded the man-of-the-match trophy. He pierced the defence after fine approach work by Patrick McCarthy and Gavin Duffy. McCarthy kicked a penalty and Ireland were not flattered to lead 8-3 at half-time after Charlie Hodgson reduced the deficit with a penalty.
The English out-half cut the margin further 10 minutes into the second half but the Irish defence stood firm in the face of some furious English assaults. Hodgson was wide with a penalty and the tide turned in the last five minutes when O'Sullivan's midfield partner Gary Brown hacked the ball down the pitch and Ireland finished the match in control.
IRISH SCHOOLS: P Drew (Blackrock), J Norton (St Mary's), G Brown (Blackrock), C O'Sullivan (PBC Cork), F Baynes (St Michael's); G Duffy (Roscrea), P McCarthy (CBC Cork); B Young (Ballymena), H Bourke (Clongowes) capt, J Montgomery (Blackrock), A Maher (St Joseph's Galway), M McCullough (Ballymena), D Leamy (Rockwell), S Jennings (St Mary's), T Carter (Terenure). Replace- ments: B Kidd (CBC Cork) for Bourke (60th min), E Reddan (Crescent) for McCarthy (64).
ENGLISH SCHOOLS: M Stephenson (Durham); G Arasa (Mill Hill), A Higgins (Christ's Hospital), G Mereditch (Rosall), T Coughlan (Campion); C Hodgson (Bradford Grammar), I Vass (RGS High Wycombe); A Clarke (Colston's Collegiate), S Codo (QE Barnet), D Del Valle (Colston's Collegiate), A Alesbrook (Ratcliffe), T Barlow (Colston's Collegiate), M Soden (Uppingham) capt, L Deacon (Ratcliffe), A Adey (Loughborough GS). Replacements: M Leek (John Fisher School) for Mereditch (52), T Miklausic (St Peter's Gloucester) for Deacon (65).
Referee: P Adams (Wales).
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