Captain Kendellen leads Emerging Ireland to win over Force

Alex Kendellen of Emerging Ireland scores a try. Pic ©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Darren Stewart

Emerging Ireland 29 Western Force 24 

Munster's Alex Kendellen was man of the match as Ireland edged Australian Super Rugby side Western Force in the second game of their South Africa tour.

Three tries in the opening quarter at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein got the bulk of Ireland's work done.

Oustanding midfield duo Hugh Cooney and Jude Postlethwaite shone with Postlethwaite instrumental in the early breakthroughs, crossing for the opener himself before beating three tackles to allow Chay Mullins run in. Sam Prendergast converted both.  

Number eight Sean Jansen added the third after a sparkling move. But after a break for water Force had tries of their own from Mac Grealy and Justin Landsman

Captain Kendellen drove over from lineout maul to leave it 26-14 at the break. 

Force hooker Nic Dolly got over to close the gap in the second half, but a Prendergast penalty sealed the deal for Ireland, who face the Cheetahs on Wednesday.

EMERGING IRELAND: A Osborne (Naas/Leinster); C Mullins (Ireland Sevens/Connacht), H Cooney (Clontarf/Leinster), J Postlethwaite (City of Armagh/Ulster), S O’Brien (Clontarf/Munster); S Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster), E Coughlan (Shannon/Munster); A Usanov (Clontarf/Leinster), G McCarthy (UCD/Leinster), R Foxe (Garryowen/Munster); C Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch/Ulster), C O’Tighearnaigh (UCD/Leinster); A Soroka (Clontarf/Leinster), A Kendellen (Capt, UCC/Munster), S Jansen (Connacht) 

Replacements: S Wilson (QUB/Ulster) for Usanov, J Aungier (Clontarf/Connacht) for Foxe, C Foley (Lansdowne/Leinster) for Coughlan (all 51 mins); E O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster) for O’Tighearnaigh (54); S Edogbo (UCC/Munster) for Soroka (60); H Gavin (Galwegians/Connacht) for Mullins (65); C Tector (Lansdowne/Leinster) for Postlethwaite (65); D Sheahan (Cork Con/Munster) for McCarthy (66) Yellow card: A Soroka (50 mins) 

WESTERN FORCE: M Grealy; J Landman, H Potter, S Tomkinson, R Leahy; M Burey, I Fines-Leleiwasa; H Hoopert, N Dolly, T Robertson; S Carter, D Swain; W Harris, N Champion de Crespigny, R Prinsep (Capt) 

Replacements: C Miln for Burey (36 mins); H Robertson for Fines-Leleiwasa, T Horton for Dolly, M Pearce for Hoopert (all 53); T Tauakipulu for Robertson, L Faifua for Princep (both 58); T Nofoagatotoa for Harris, D Palu for Tomkinson (both 68) Yellow cards: I Fines-Leleiwasa (39 mins); D Swain (58) Referee: H van Rooyen (South Africa)