Ireland enjoy second World Cup victory
Wednesday, 1 November 2000 21:55Ireland are through to the quarter-finals of the Lincoln Rugby League World Cup after defeating Scotland 18-6 at Tolka Park tonight. If Ireland beat the New Zealand Maori on Saturday night, they will top Group 4 and will probably avoid the holders Australia, setting up a quarter-final clash against England instead.
In tonight's game, Bradford stand-off Michael Withers grabbed the killer try in the second half while Hull full-back Steve Prescott kicked 10 points as the Scots were condemned to their second successive defeat in this competition. The Irish had a four-point advantage at half-time, thanks to a try from Ryan Sheridan and two penalties and a conversion from Prescott. Scotland's try and conversion came from Danny Arnold and Matt Crowther respectively.
In the second-half Prescott notched up two further penalties with Withers' try sandwiched in between as Castleford loose forward Adrian Vowles was condemned to the sinbin for persistently being caught offside and Ireland took advantage. However, Scotland can still technically qualify for the next phase if they can beat Samoa in their final group match in Edinburgh next Sunday.
Meanwhile, in tonight's other World Cup fixtures, Samoa beat the New Zealand Maori 21-16 in the other Group 4 game. In Group 1, holders Australia beat Fiji comprehensively 66-8 while England enjoyed a similar victory against the Russians, beating them 76-4. Earlier today, in Group 3, France beat Tonga 28-8.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
