CHURCHILL CUP Ireland A 49 USA 9THE FINAL margin of victory flattered Ireland somewhat in their opening Churchill Cup match yesterday. There was always going to be an element of ring rust in trying to mesh a scratch side together ostensibly on the back of a couple of weeks' training.
Nowhere was this more apparent than in the first half of this clash in the Kingstown stadium, Ontario, as the Irish performance was undermined by countless errors, primarily losing ball in contact but also failing to clear out aggressively at ruck time.
The lineout was also a shambles with little or no organisation and it was only at scrum time that Ireland exerted any dominance.
Ireland managed a brace of tries in the first half through centre Kieran Lewis after a quick break by his midfield partner Keith Earls and also a penalty try awarded by referee Federico Cuesta.
Jonathan Sexton posted a conversion while American outhalf Mike Hercus kicked a couple of penalties.
A raft of replacements had a positive effect on the Irish performance after the interval with David Pollack, Frank Murphy and Seán Cronin contributing handsomely.
Tries were more plentiful with Neil Best grabbing a couple while Mark McCrea, Frank Murphy and Denis Hurley also touched down. Sexton kicked a penalty while his replacement, Ian Keatley, tagged on three conversions.
Earls, Cian Healy, Best, Roger Wilson and Denis Hurley were the pick of an Ireland team whose collective display might charitably be described as erratic.
Scores: Ireland A:Tries: Lewis, Best 2, F. Murphy, D. Hurley, McCrea. Cons: Sexton, Keatley 3. Pens: Sexton. USA:Pens: Hercus 3.
IRELAND A:D Hurley (Munster); M McCrea (Ulster), K Lewis (Munster), K Earls (Munster), B Tuohy (Cornish Pirates); J Sexton (Leinster), T O'Leary (Munster); C Healy (Leinster), D Fogarty (Munster), M Ross (Harlequins); B Casey (London Irish, capt), R Caldwell (Ulster); N Best (Ulster), J O'Connor (Connacht), R Wilson (Ulster). Replacements: I Keatley (Leinster) for Sexton (70), F Murphy (Leicester) for O'Leary (56), S Cronin (Connacht) for Fogarty (52), T Court (Ulster) for Ross (68), T Hogan (Leinster) for Casey (68), D Ryan (Munster) for Caldwell (60), D Pollock (Ulster) for O'Connor (49).
USA:Wyles, Ngwenya, Emerick, Esikia, Boyd, Hercus, Petri, MacDonald, Crick, Moeakiola, Weidemer, Doyle, Clever, Lett, Schubert. Replacements: Sika for Esikia (52), Malifa for Hercus (77), Shaw for Petri (70), Laulaupealu for Crick (77), Aylor for Lett (68).
Sin Bin:MacDonald (77).
Referee:F Cuesta (Argentina).
