Ireland Schools Pick Up Second Win

Tries from Shane Hanratty, Vasily Artemiev and captain David Pollock handed Ireland’s Schools side their second win of the 2005 campaign – a handsome 33-13 defeat of Wales at Pontypool RFC.

Tries from Shane Hanratty, Vasily Artemiev and captain David Pollock handed Ireland’s Schools side their second win of the 2005 campaign – a handsome 33-13 defeat of Wales at Pontypool RFC.

Schools International: Saturday, April 2
Wales Schools 13 Ireland Schools 33, Pontypool RFC
Scorers: Wales: Try: Lee Bevan; Con: Rhys Priestland; Pens: Priestland 2
Ireland: Tries: Shane Hanratty, Vasily Artemiev, David Pollock; Cons: Brian Collins 3; Pens: Collins 2, James Shiells; Drop gl: Collins

Ireland Schools eased past their Welsh counterparts on Saturday – outscoring the hosts by three tries to one.

Free-running Blackrock College full-back Luke Fitzgerald set up Gonzaga’s Hanratty for the first try before ‘Rock’s Russian-born wide man Artemiev raced through for his third touch down in two outings.

Able fly-half Brian Collins converted both efforts and added two penalties and a well-struck drop goal to the visitors’ tally, for a 23-6 half-time lead.

Wales’ points had come from the boot of Rhys Priestland and although full-back Lee Bevan slalomed through for a second half try, the result was never in doubt.

A converted try from talented number 8 Pollock and a penalty from his Royal School Dungannon team mate James Shiells – on as a replacement – rounded out an excellent afternoon’s work for the Irish youngsters.

IRELAND SCHOOLS:

(15) Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College)
(14) Shane Hanratty (Gonzaga College)
(13) Mark McCrea (Belfast High School)
(12) Keith Earls (St Munchin’s College)
(11) Vasily Artemiev (Blackrock College)
(10) Brian Collins (Castlenock College)
(9) Adam Bartholomew (Royal School Armagh)
(1) Cian Healy (Belvedere College)
(2) Cian Culleton (Blackrock College)
(3) Royce Burke-Flynn (St Michael’s College)
(4) Thomas Anderson (Rainey Endowed School)
(5) Conor McInerney (St Mary’s College)
(6) Rory Hamilton (Methodist College)
(7) William Falloon (Royal School Armagh)
(8) David Pollock (Royal School Dungannon) (Capt)

Replacements:

(16) David Gilchrist (Belvedere College)
(17) Michael Ferguson (Sullivan Upper School)
(18) Neil Simpson (Belfast Royal Academy)
(19) Don Keogh (Christian Brothers College Cork)
(20) David Moore (Blackrock College)
(21) James Shiells (Royal School Dungannon)

(22) Owen McMurray (Methodist College)

Wales Schools: L Bevan; J Bird, R Thomas, A Wilkins, W Harries; R Priestland, L Williams; N White, A James (Capt), G Price-Jones, J Murphy, J Down, J Jones, L Williams, R Cridland.

HT: Wales Schools 6 Ireland Schools 23
Referee: Geraint Ashton-Jones (England)

Ireland Schools Result/Fixture 2005:

Saturday, March 26: Ireland 28 England 17, Temple Hill, Cork

Friday, April 8: Ireland v France, Dubarry Park, Athlone, 6.45pm