Irish Colleges 3 French Colleges 18:THE FIRST ever international to be held at Balbriggan RFC saw the French universities run in two tries at the north Co Dublin venue.
Former schools international Brian Collins had put the Irish in front on 15 minutes with a drop goal only for the French to counter soon afterwards with a similar score from Mathieu Belle.
Belle then put the visitors ahead for the first time with a long-range penalty after the Irish had ventured offside.
The Irish then fell further in arrears when centre Quentin Valenson made the corner on the half-hour mark.
Leading 11-3 at the break, the French went over for their second try of the game on 55 minutes when Mathieu Pallars ran on to a crossfield ball to score in the corner, with Belle adding the conversion.
SCORERS: Irish Colleges – B Collins drop goal. French Colleges – Q Valensen, M Pallars try each, M Belle pen, drop goal, con
IRISH COLLEGES: P Budina; J Devitt, L Kavanagh, K Lynch, D Fanning; B Collins, S Treacy; N Simpson, C Culleton, M Storey, B Moroney, R Copeland, John Dever, J Downey, A Dunlop. Replacements used: S Snell, A Ferguson, E Nihill, A Kerr, S Joyce, M Geraghy, C Morrin.
FRENCH UNIVERSITIES: K Pautric, S Ternisien, Q Valenion, P Bonneford, C Imbert, M Belle, L Babarthe, C Ric, B Denoyelle, G Fabro, J B Roidot, A Louchard, S Nicola, B Leonte, M Petitehange. Replacements: M Pallare, B Zanon, C Coll.
Referee: D Wilkinson (ARLB).
