Good start, but momentum must be maintained

IRELAND’S joint second place in the opening leg of the Samsung Super League was as good as could be hoped for, but the fact it was shared with Switzerland and the US dented the value of the performance in terms of points gained.

While the three countries are one from the top on the league table, the fact is each has 5.33 points, just 2.33 more than the Netherlands, with Britain

That is not to diminish the battling display that saw Robert Splaine’s team climb from equal fifth place at the halfway stage, it merely highlights that the good start will count for nothing unless the momentum is maintained in Rome next Friday.