Ireland will meet the Arabian Gulf in the quarter-finals of the Bowl competition after finishing third in their group yesterday with victory over Morocco and defeats by Fiji and Argentina.

But if there was a slightly negative look to the final balance sheet, Ireland, still relearning the sevens game, showed encouraging signs of progress. Out of the top competition and consigned to the Bowl today, Ireland should be able to play with much greater confidence; in terms of their sevens education, this can only bode well.

It is always difficult playing against the world champions, Fiji, but Ireland still posted some encouraging performances, notably from scrumhalf Derek Hegarty and James Topping. But in the end the sheer pace and skill of the Pacific islanders were much too much for an Ireland side coming in cold to the tournament.

If Ireland were to have had any chance of qualifying for the Emirates Trophy competition, then they had to win against Argentina in their second tie. In the event Ireland showed a determination that augured well, and trailed by only 12-14 at half time with tries by teenager Gavin Duffy and Hegarty.

Argentina scored after the break, but Ireland responded with a try by Colm McMahon only for the South Americans to clinch the tie with a late try by Lucas Borges.

Against Morocco, Ireland led 19-0 at half time with two tries by Matt Mostyn and one by Topping and two conversions by Duffy. Then, after Morocco had scored twice, Killian Keane settled the tie for Ireland with an unconverted try in the corner.