If singing your national anthem with gusto was the only qualification for playing for your country then Ireland's rugby league side passed with flying colours at Tolka Park last night.

After this victory Ireland will now reach are guaranteed a place in the last eight. On Saturday, back at Tolka Park, they play a defining final group match against the New Zealand Maoris with the prize for the winners a mouth-watering quarter-final clash with England.

Take out Brian Carney, the kid from Cork, and Ian Herron, born in Belfast, and the rest of these players were only allowed to pull on the green shirts thanks to echoes of Irishness passed down by grandparents.

But their rugby league pedigree has long since been tried and tested and with a hardworking approach and only the occasional sprinkle of flair they overcame a stern test from Scotland. It means at worst they will finish second in this group, good enough to take them into the knockout stages.

They probably spent more time rehearsing Ireland's Call than some set pieces over the last few days. But the song was given a bellowing rendition in front of a disappointing, though approving, crowd of just over 1,700.

Two minutes into the game the pride and passion of the anthem was translated into points. With their first possession Scotland, through scrumhalf Scott Rhodes, attempted to kick downfield. His clearance was charged down by onrushing Irish forwards and fell kindly for Luke Ricketson, the loose forward, to fly kick down field.

The ball was dribbled on again before scrumhalf Ryan Sheridan emerged from the chasing pack to dive and score. Steve Prescott landed the first of his four goals for the night.

But the promising start wasn't built on quickly. And to make it more worrying they saw stand off and playmaker Tommy Martyn helped off the field, apparently with damaged ribs, in only the 8th minute.

But Martyn was back 10 minutes later and Prescott stretched the lead a little further with two more penalties.

This wasn't the sparkling Irish performance that many had hoped for. But though they lacked flair they were effective enough in defence to keep out the Scots until just two minutes before half-time.

Lee Gilmour then broke incisively from half way. His pass set up a simple finish for full back Danny Arnold. Matt Crowthers's conversion meant there were only four points in it at half-time.

Prescott landed another penalty 12 minutes into the second half, but the Scots were still dangerous - a sweeping Scottish move in the 60th minute only failed when Gilmour couldn't hold on to an ambitious pass.

Relief for Ireland came shortly afterwards. First Scotland's influential loose forward, Adrian Vowles was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes after persistently finding himself offside.

With the Scots down to 12 men Ireland took full advantage. The best move of the night saw quick hands move the ball from left to right before Prescott darted forward. From his pass Carney took it another thrilling few yards before a looped ball dropped into the hands of Michael Withers, and he stretched away from the Scottish defenders in a race to the corner flag.

Prescott missed the conversion but he added a later penalty to put the seal on another Irish victory and to keep the dream alive of a clash with England in the last eight.

Ireland: Prescott, Carney, Martyn, Eagar, Herron, Withers, Sheridan, O'Connor, Lawless, McDermott, Joynt, Campion, Ricketson. Subs: Williams, Mathiou, Barnhill, Bradbury.

Scotland: Arnold, Daylight, Gilmour, Bell, Crowther, Horne, S Rhodes, Heckenberg, Russell, Laughton, Logan, Cram, Vowles. Subs: Maiden, Graham, McDonald, Shaw. Sin Bin: Vowles (59).

Referee: R Smith (England).