THE Ireland A team not only failed to emulate the achievement of the under 21 side by winning the Triple Crown at the Richmond Athletic ground yesterday, but they had to endure a 30 point beating by England A before a capacity attendance.
Not alone did England crush Irish ambitions, they ran up 56 points for a record total in an A international between the countries. And there was absolutely no consolation for Ireland in that fact that 26 points is the highest total they have scored against England at A level.
It was a bitterly disappointing display by Ireland, who had played so well in so many respects against Scotland and Wales. "Yes, I am very disappointed and especially in the margin of defeat," said Ireland coach Dave Haslett. "They dominated us up front, apart from the scrum. I thought in the circumstances that our back row did quite well and Liam Toland and Anthony Foley put in a lot of tackles.
"It is a very disappointing end to the season but there is no need for dejection. I think, for all our problems out there today, it must be remembered that at under 21 and A levels we won five of six matches."
True enough, but yesterday the England pack did a demolition job on Ireland and it was the English back row, especially number eight Anthony Diprose, who reaped the harvest.
Time after time Diprose and his flankers were able to create off the back of the line out, rucks and mauls, and for all the stout hearted tackling, especially by Foley - easily Ireland's best forward - England created the gaps and exploited them. Chris Murphy and David Sims destroyed Neil Francis and Malcolm O'Kelly in the line out, and when Ireland did win ball here, more often that not it was loosely tapped back and the eager - England forwards were on their way again.
Their half backs, Andy Gomarsall and Alex King, had a field day, benefitting from the strength of those up front, and England relied on that strength rather than flair to break the Irish challenge.
England did produce some creative back play at times in the second half, but this was basically a triumph for forward power allied to the skill of out half King, who scored 26 points. Nor were Ireland helped by the inconsistency and ineptitude of referee George Gadjovich. That, and Ireland's own poor forward performance, compounded the many sided problems as England recorded their fifth win at this level this season.
Ireland started badly and were 10 points down inside 16 minutes. Eric Elwood (twice) and Conor O'Shea missed very kickable penalties in that period, with a penalty from King and a try by Gomarsall having given England the lead.
But an Elwood penalty and a great try by O'Shea after a superb run by James Topping and good support from Toland, left just two points between the sides. There followed Ireland's best phase, although King stretched his side's lead to 13-8 with a penalty in the 31st minute.
Then, in a two minute period just before the interval, England scored 12 points, with tries from Ade Adebayo and Tim Stimpson, and Ireland trailed 25-8 at the interval.
An early second half penalty from Elwood got a rapid response from England, and while Richard Wallace got two tries - both the product of good support play and Francis got one in injury time, after a run from 40 yards, the power of the English pack paved the way for the scores to come at regular intervals.
In all, England scored seven tries to Ireland's four.
