By Ian Golden at Sardis Road, Date: 20/7/18
ENGLAND 80 IRELAND 0
England, who made just one change from their win over Scotland two days’ ago, saw off sturdy efforts from the inexperienced Ireland side to win 80-0.
It means that England need a win or draw over Wales on Sunday at Sardis Road in Pontypridd to win their fourth consecutive title.
Will Jubb went over in the sixth minute to give England the lead. Ben Stead’s conversion attempt went wide.
Lewis Fairhurst sprinted over 50 metres from kick-off to double the lead with Stead’s conversion making it 10-0.
Ryan Langton twisted his way over for England’s third before winger Lee Rigiste broke away for the fourth. Stead converted both making it 22-0 on 20 minutes.
Five minutes’ later Lewis Fairhurst made a clean break to touch down under the sticks for the next try with Stead converting.
Ireland did well to stop Registe from scoring his second in the final tackle of the next set but it was brief respite. On their next attack, Alex Clegg was sent over in the corner and Stead converted.
Registe eventually did go over again for an unconverted effort, four minutes before the break to put the score onto 38-0.
But there was still time for Matt Chrimes to score just right of the sticks with Stead converting again giving England a 44-0 half-time lead.
Registe took just three minutes to get his hat-trick try after the teams returned. Stead’s conversion brought up the 50.
Harry Chapman broke from half-way to score England’s tenth try which Stead converted.
Ireland should have broken their duck on 55 minutes but their winger Mark Woods was unable to ground the ball after catching it high when standing in the goal area. One of a few opportunities they had to score during a short period in the second half, only their lack of experience failing them in the end.
However England eventually got another on 64 minutes, Chapman with enough downward pressure on the ball to score his second of the game. Stead converted well.
Luke Stephens broke free for the next England try on 69 minutes and Bass followed him over six minutes later. Stead converted both.
And as Ireland tired, Matt Chrimes had an easy run for England’s 14th try of the day with Stead kicking his 12th goal as the final whistle sounded.
ENGLAND
6 Lewis Fairhurst (Edge Hill University)
18 Lee Registe (Leeds Beckett)
3 Jason Bass (Newcastle University)
16 Matthew Chrimes (Leeds Beckett University)
19 Alex Clegg (Northumbria University)
7 Kieran Smith (University of Hull)
21 Ben Stead (University of Gloucestershire)
33 Lewis Taylor (Loughborough University)
23 Will Jubb (University of Hull)
10 Daniel Gover (Coventry University)
11 James Mason (University of Gloucestershire)
24 Marcus Stock (University of Sheffield)
25 Ryan Langton (University of Hull)
Subs:
9 Luke Stephens (University of Gloucestershire)
8 Conner MacCallum (Manchester Met Uni)
32 Alex Ford (University of Exeter)
14 Harry Chapman (Loughborough University)
Tries: Jubb (6), Fairhurst (9, 25), Langton (15), Registe (19, 36, 43), Clegg (30), Chrimes (40, 79), Chapman (47, 64), Stephens (69), Bass (75)
Goals: Stead 12/14
IRELAND
1 James Millar (Ulster University)
2 Mark Woods (Ulster University)
3 Ciaran Howard (St Mary’s University)
4 Matt Connolly (IT Blanchardstown)
5 Conor Creaby (IT Blanchardstown)
6 Dean McMahon (Athlone Institute of Technology)
7 Bradley Sheridan (University of Warwick)
8 James Foley (Institute of Technology Carlow)
9 Jonny Mooney (Belfast Metropolitan College)
10 Paul Bolger (University of Gloucestershire)
11 Roy Stanley (NUI Galway)
12 Matt McKelvey (Belfast Metropolitan College)
13 Rory Wise (Oxford Brookes University)
Subs
14 Ryan Guilfoyle (NUI Galway)
15 Peter Ryan (Coventry University)
16 Adam Malone (University of Limerick)
17 Matty Coulter (Belfast Metropolitan College)
Referee: Ellis McCarthy
Half-time: 44-0
