Ireland contrive to draw

Ireland 3, Belgium 3

It was bitterly disappointing for John Clarke and his team not to get the win they deserved but by allowing Belgium an equaliser two minutes from the end, they consigned themselves to the new B Championships in two years time.

The coach said later it was a "disgrace" the Irish had not made the top eight, but to take his comment at its literal value would be quite wrong, as he explained.