Ireland trial match: Referee Alan Lewis brought a premature end to this contest between the Whites and Blues at Merrion Road yesterday, blowing for "no side" after just 65 minutes at the behest of the coach for Ireland's summer tour to Japan, Niall O'Donovan.
He had seen several players helped from the pitch and decided there was nothing further to be gained from this match played behind closed doors.
From the moment Anthony Horgan limped to the sideline with a leg injury after 15 minutes, to a more serious departure by Whites captain Simon Easterby, who eventually returned sporting a neck brace, there was a steady stream of casualties.
At this point none are thought to be serious.
The sides finished level at 14-14. The Whites, profiting from a couple of turnovers, went 14-0 ahead through tries from Kieran Lewis, following a fine break by Paddy Wallace, and from Denis Leamy after good work from the pack. Wallace added the conversions.
The Blues responded in first-half injury time when Shane Jennings crossed under the posts following excellent continuity. Paul Burke converted, as he would do again on 54 minutes after he was driven over from a lineout.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 9 mins: Lewis try, Wallace conversion, 7-0; 28: Leamy try, Wallace conversion, 14-0; 40+1: Jennings try, Burke conversion, 14-7. Half-time: 14-7. 54: A Quinlan try, Burke penalty, 14-14.
WHITES: M McHugh (Connacht); T Bowe (Ulster), K Lewis (Leinster), J Downey (Connacht), G Brown (Leinster); P Wallace (Ulster), C Keane (Connacht); J Lyne (Leinster), P Shields (Ulster), S Best (Ulster); T Hogan (Munster), B Gissing (Leinster); S Easterby (Llanelli), D Leamy (Munster), R Wilson (Ulster). Replacements: D McAllister (Leinster) for Wallace (half-time), F Murphy (Munster) for Downey (45 mins), D Blaney (Leinster) for Lewis (50 mins), D Dillon (Leinster) for Easterby (50 mins), K Gleeson (Leinster) for Leamy (50 mins).
BLUES: G Duffy (Harlequins); C McPhillips (Connacht), P Devlin (Munster), D Quinlan (Northampton), A Horgan (Munster); P Burke (Munster), K Campbell (Ulster); R Corrigan (Leinster), B Jackman (Leinster), L Johnson (Ballynahinch); L Cullen (Leicester), M McCullough (Ulster); A Quinlan (Munster), S Jennings (Leicester), J O'Sullivan (Connacht). Replacements: E Hickey (UCD) for Horgan (15 mins), B O'Riordan (Leinster) for Duffy (38 mins), R McCormack (Leinster) for Johnson (half-time), J Fogarty (Connacht) for Jackman (half-time), D Fitzpatrick (Belfast Harlequins) for Corrigan (54 mins), M Swift (Connacht) for A Quinlan (56 mins).
Referee: Alan Lewis
