Ireland run riot against Russians

Ireland 53 Russia 0

The victory sets up a mouthwatering clash with England on Wednesday, a repeat of last year’s semi-final which Ireland won before losing a penalty shoot-out to host nation France.

Manager Willie Gribben was “delighted” with yesterday’s result.

Said the Portadown legend: “This was a team of unknown quality playing together for the first time while we were up against a Russian team which we knew very little about. But how could you not be delighted with a scoreline like that?

“We had seven tries. James Stephenson had two while David Lynch, Luke O’Dea, Kieran Brookes, Tchad Collins Francois and Callum McKie all had one. Six were converted, three by McKie and three by Adam Kennedy who also scored two penalties.

“We now face England on Wednesday evening which is a repeat of last year’s semi-final. We would be reasonably confident going into this game after what happened last year. But I think England possibly underestimated us last year and are not going to be caught cold again. They had someone videoing our game yesterday!”

Gribben reports a clean bill of health and will has a full squad to pick from.

These Championships involve 32 European Nations divided into four divisions. Ireland are seeded second in the first division by virtue of last year’s heroics.

IRELAND U-18 CLUBS: L O’Dea (Shannon/Munster) T Collins Francois (Truro College/Exiles) E Griffin (Corinthians/Connacht) D Lynch (Naas/Leinster) R Kennedy (Longford/Leinster) C McKie (Brentwood/Exiles) A Kennedy (Buccaneers/Connacht) J Robinson (Corinthians/Connacht) (capt) D Farrell (Leeds Carnegie/Exiles) K Brookes (Fylde/Exiles) S Casey (Castlebar/Connacht) D Landy (Carrick-on-Suir/Munster) A Spring (Sligo/Connacht) J Stephenson (London Irish/Exiles) J Bennett (Gloucester/Exiles). Replacements: F Lynch (Virginia/Ulster) P Molloy (Waterpark/Munster) K Egan (Corinthians/Connacht) J Simpson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) A Mulligan (Bective/Leinster) D Gallagher (Lisburn/Ulster) M Dolan (Buccs/Connacht) N Earls (Wicklow/Leinster) A Boyle (St Brigid’s/Leinster) G Nyawata (Naas/Leinster) K Domican (Naas/Leinster).