THE Irish Schools set themselves up for a tilt with unbeaten England in Hull on Wednesday when they overpowered Scotland at the Mardyke on Saturday. It was a highly impressive team performance and the side is unchanged for the next assignment.

Scotland's problems started in the pack where Robert Casey, Peter Bracken and Leo Cullen provided Ireland with a steady stream of line-out possession. The Irish scrum was strong, too, and their rucking - normally a feature of Scotland's play - was second to none.

Behind the pack, Ireland were well served by half-backs Ciaran Scally and Brian O'Mahony and the back division operated superbly at times. None looked better than left winger Cormac Dowling who scored two of the five tries and had a big part to play in a third.

Ireland had a good start when Brian O'Mahony kicked a fifth minute penalty but Scotland drew level immediately with a penalty from Chrstopher Paterson. But the initiative of the Irish backs was too much for Scotland in a five-minute spell shortly afterwards.

Jonathan Davis grabbed a try and O'Mahony converted while the out-half also added the extra points to another admirable try from Dowling. O'Mahony and Paterson exchanged penalties and Eamon Travers got Ireland's third try on the stroke of halftime.

Paterson kicked two early second-half penalties for the visitors but Ireland finished with a flourish. Dowling got in at the corner in the 23rd minute and a minute from time Tim Cahill left four defenders in his wake for a try which O'Mahony converted.