IRELAND 70
T: Hope (7), Dunne (10), McMahon (13, 36), Grix (23, 62), T King (32), McDonnell (38), Roberts (46, 72), G King (59), J Kelly (64), Littler (69)
C: Finn 8/11, Littler 1/2
Russia 16
T: Eramin (4), Kalinin (26), Buryak (79)
C: Lysokon 2/3
(HT 38-12)
Steve Hogan
The Carlisle Grounds, Bray
Ireland secured automatic qualification for the Rugby League World Cup with an emphatic 13-try victory over Russia.
The Wolfhounds turned on the style at the Carlisle Grounds in Bray and the Russians had no answer to their high-tempo display of power and accuracy.
The victory means Ireland have qualified for next year’s tournament in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, while the Russians face an elimination play-off against Italy next week.
Russia got off to a great start and scored the first try but they couldn’t keep up with the Irish who ran in tries from all angles, including doubles from Galway Tribesman winger Alan McMahon, outhalf Scott Grix and back row Ollie Roberts.
The Irish won the tackle battle and ruthlessly punched holes in their opponent’s defence. The Russians were game and had spells when they gamely challenged Ireland — but the Wolfhounds’ were always firmly in control and as the Russians tired, Ireland’s ran up the score, with no try more popular than that scored by James Kelly after he came on as a replacement in the second half.
The Shankill native, who plays for the Dublin City Exiles, and Alan McMahon must surely be in the sights of the professional clubs in England after their recent displays for Ireland.
There was also a touching moment late in the second-half for long-serving stalwart Stuart Littler, who scored a memorable try in his final match before finally hanging up his boots after a long and successful career.
Ireland: Shannon McDonnell, Alan McMahon, Stuart Littler, Toby King, Casey Dunne, Scott Grix, Liam Finn (capt), George King, Joe Keyes, Luke Ambler, Will Holt, Dave Allen, Ollie Roberts. Replacements: Joe Philbin, Matty Hadden, James Kelly, Gareth Gill.
Russia: Viacheslav Eremin, Vadim Buryak, Kirill Kosharin, Leonid Kalinin, Dmitry Bratko, Aleksandr Lysokon, Denis Tiulenev, Sergei Konstantinov, Petr Botnarash, Ivan Troitskii, Andrey Kuznetsov, Mikhail Burlutskii, Nikolai Zagoskin. Replacements: Vadim Fedchuk, Vladimir Vlasyuk, Maxim Tsinkovich, Maksim Suchkov.
