IRELAND WOLFHOUNDS 26
WALES DRAGONHEARTS 22
PHIL HODGSON
Castleford Panthers, Saturday
The Dragonhearts are still without a win this autumn, but it was a mightily close-run thing at Castleford Panthers in a game in which the Irish, who have now won five successive games, were relieved to hear the final whistle.
Wales coach Si Reynolds had predicted that his side would finish the stronger but a late try by Adam Pope, with Llewellyn Hawkes adding his second conversion of the contest, wasn’t quite enough to deny `hosts’ Ireland, who had prevailed 26-18 in Neath in late September, the double – and a fifth successive win.
The Wolfhounds had gone in front in the third minute, scrumhalf Tom Ashurst and hugely outstanding fullback James Farrar sending Baily Tait (the grandson of legendary Great Britain and Huddersfield fullback Frank Dyson) in for the first of what turned out to be four tries for the winger.
Farrar added the extras in the strong swirling wind – it was unclear at the time as to whether referee Carl Hughes, who had been appointed the previous day and lacked any touchjudges, had allowed the goal – but as Wales began to settle into the game a penalty (the Wolfhounds won that particular count 10-3) set up the position, after Ireland’s Kyle Bassett had been unable to pouch a pass with the try-line begging, for Kurtis Haile to open the Dragonhearts’ account after crisp cross-field passing.
Dan Wilds converted and Wales went 10-6 up when, on the half-hour, Elli Evans went close and Hawkes burrowed over from dummy-half.
Wilds’ shot at goal drifted wide but, thanks to a couple of quick tries, Ireland went in at the break 18-10 ahead.
Paul McCullagh snared the first, diving over out wide after the Wolfhounds had `run’ a penalty – and Tait notched the second, coolly collecting Ashurst’s pinpoint kick.
Farrar landed both conversions and, within a couple of minutes of the resumption, Ireland were twelve points clear, Tait darting in after grand approach work by Kyle Barrett and Daire Kemp.
Farrar couldn’t improve but Ireland looked like putting the issue to bed when, after being camped on the Welsh line, the ball was swept wide – only for the impressive Issac Baynham to have what could have been a try-creating pass intercepted by Hawkes, who held off a posse of defenders in a 90-metre chase.
Hawkes converted his own score and at that stage, at only six points behind on 58 minutes, the momentum appeared to have swung Wales’ way.
But Ireland, courtesy of a couple of penalties, worked their way into the Dragonhearts 20 where, ignoring an overlap on the left, the ball was moved right for Tait to grab his fourth try which, despite Farrar being unable to goal from the touchline, proved to be the match-clincher, regardless of Pope’s response.
Reynolds said: “We don’t always seem to get the rub of the green and the penalty count against us certainly had an impact. I want my players to be aggressive, they can sometimes be close to the line, but not all referees like it.
“But I’m proud of my players’ performance, especially as 16 of our 28-man squad were new to the Dragonhearts. And I certainly can’t fault them for effort. If the game had lasted for another five minutes I’m sure we would have won, and it would have been the same when we lost to Ireland in Neath after having blasted back from 26-6 down to 26-18 behind.”
Ireland’s coach Wayne Kerr said: “I’m as happy about the performance, which is paramount, as the win.
“Farrar was good but our `middles’ were immense, such as Oisin Carroll, Dom Greene, Michael Walsh and Charlie Sweeney.
“Our errors, and back-to-back penalties, allowed Wales back into the game. Above all, though, we blooded five under 18s – Baynham, Carroll, Sweeney, Green and Walsh – and the experience will have done them a power of good. And this win is down to Ged Corchoran, who over the past three years has put in place pathways which has given Rugby League in Ireland a sound structure, at many age groups. This victory wouldn’t have happened without him.”
WOLFHOUNDS
1 James Farrar
2 Baily Tait
3 Paul McCullagh
4 Ellis Keppel
5 Kyle Bassett
6 Issac Baynham
7 Tom Ashurst
18 Oisin Carroll
9 Conor Mahon
10 Daniel Lynch
11 Conlan Mawson
12 Patrick Walsh
13 Liam O’Callaghan ©
Subs
19 Kyle Barrett
15 Charlie Sweeney
17 Daire Kemp
8 Euan Hynes
14 Dom Greene
16 Conor Coleman
20 Michael Walsh
Tries: Tait (3, 39, 42, 68), McCullach (33)
Goals: Farrar 3/5
DRAGONHEARTS
3 Brad Lewellyn (Thornhill Trojans)
13 Lewis Francis (Aberavon Fighting Irish)
20 Owen Thomas (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
16 Llewellyn Hawkes (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
12 Kurtis Haile (Bristol All Golds)
7 Dan Wilds (Aberavon Fighting Irish)
5 Elli Evans (Aberavon Fighting Irish)
1 Alan Pope (Aberavon Fighting Irish)
18 Nathan Tucker (Cardiff Blue Dragons)
24 Rob Davies (Bristol All Golds)
4 Brandon Lamb (Bristol All Golds)
17 Lloyd Allen (Aberavon Fighting Irish)
2 Ben Jackson (Aberavon Fighting Irish)
Subs
6 Chadd George (Bridgend Blue Bulls)
8 Ellis O’Grady (Cardiff Blue Dragons)
11 Johnathan Reid (South Wales Jets)
14 Lewis Harris (Rhondda Outlaws)
25 Ryan Price-Jones (Clock Face Miners)
26 Sean Waldeck (Aberavon Fighting Irish)
28 Tom Spedding (Ulverston)
Tries: Haile (22), Hawkes (30, 58), Pope (74)
Goals: Wilds ½, Hawkes 2/2
Referee: Carl Hughes; Half-time: 18-10
