PLAYING in the FIRA Junior World Cup rugby tournament for the first time, Ireland Under-19 ran in seven tries to defeat Portugal 39-20 in their Pool Four match at Buenos Aires yesterday.

The Irish were shocked by an early Portuguese try in the first minute of the game, but their superior back play saw them through in the second half.

Bryn Cunningham and Michael Price scored two tries each, Robert Casey, Gareth McCullough and David Nolan, one apiece. Gordon Murphy added two conversions. Ireland play Scotland in Buenos Aires tomorrow in the deciding pool match.

The winners of Pool Four will play the winners of Pool One, likely to be Argentina, on Friday.