Sport

Irish challenge runs out of steam

Under-19 World Championship/South Africa - 32 Ireland - 7: Ireland tasted defeat for the first time in the 2005 IRB Under-19…

Wed Apr 06 2005 - 01:00

Under-19 World Championship/South Africa - 32 Ireland - 7: Ireland tasted defeat for the first time in the 2005 IRB Under-19 World Championship after losing in a high-quality match to the hosts, South Africa, in Pietermaritzburg yesterday.

Hopes were high after an easy victory over Georgia in their first game last Friday, but the temperatures reached 31 degrees yesterday which did not suit the travelling side.

They handled the conditions admirably, though, and competed strongly for much of the game but, in the last 20 minutes, Ireland could not handle the pace of South Africa's outside backs who ran in two late tries.

Ireland manager Michael Cunningham, while proud of his side's performance, suggested that chances were missed in the first half. "We should have made more of our numerical advantage when they were down to 14 men in the first half. You have to take your chances."

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Even so, Ireland can be proud of their defensive effort and phases of attack when they had the Springboks on the back foot.

Ireland were very much in the game at half-time when they were 10-0 behind after South Africa had scored a try through Marion Lewis, converted by Francois Steyn, who also landed a penalty goal. Then early in the second half South Africa struck again with a try Hilton Lobberts.

Ireland responded with a fine try by Darren Cave from a set scrum ball, the centre choosing the inside channel to race in under the posts leaving Rob Kearney with an easy conversion.

Thereafter South Africa looked menacing on the counter-attack and ran in two tries through Jody Rose and Shandre Frolick to claim the bonus point.

Ireland's next game is against Australia on Saturday.

In yesterday's other matches Wales beat Scotland 44-12, Romania were trounced 62-0 by New Zealand, France were 49-0 victors over Georgia, England beat Japan by 43-9 and Australia strolled to a 38-0 victory over Argentina.

IRELAND: R Kearney (UCD) capt; E Moloney (Blackrock), F McFadden (Clongowes), D Cave (Upper Sullivan), D Black (Portadown); E Ryan (UCC), M D'Arcy (Dublin University); C Black (Hartpury), G O'Meara (Lansdowne), B Lynch (Rotherham Titans), D McGowan (Buccaneers), F Walsh (UCC), D Laffan (Dublin University), B O'Mahony (Crescent Comp), D O'Reilly (Blackrock). Replacements used: C Muldoon (Galwegians), G Walsh (UL Bohs), A Saunderson (Ballyclare), D Toner (Lansdowne).