Ireland 38 Scotland 26

IRELAND turned on the afterburners either side of half time to blow visitors Scotland away last night at Musgrave Park to get a big rugby weekend off to a winning start.

A superb individual try by Bandon native and Man of the Match Jack Crowley on the stroke of half time and two early tries in the opening minutes of the second half by Andrew Smith and Thomas Ahern saw Ireland claim a bonus-point win with some style.

Crowley was the hero of the first half with two tries for Ireland. His scores bookended Thomas Clarkson’s try and he helped give his side a 21-12 cushion at the interval.

Crowley took 10 minutes to open Ireland’s account with a try created by huge pressure from his pack. The Bandon man added the conversion for a 7-0 lead.

It was shortlived with the Scots striking with a burst through the centre by hooker Ewan Ashman. Nathan Chamberlain converted to make it 7-7.

Ireland thought they were over again in the 21st minute but the TMO Stefano Penne could not see clear grounding,

Two minutes later there was no such confusion with Clarkson crashing over and Crowley converting but again Ireland coughed up another soft try this time to winger Jack Blain in the corner.

It looked like it would stay at 14-12 to Ireland before Crowley took the ball just on his 22 line ran through the Scots defence including a big hand off of Scotland full back Ollie Smith for the score of the game to leave it 21-12.

Ireland were out of sight and had the bonus in the bag by the 46th minute with two quick fire tries, one from winger Andrew Smith and then a huge break up the sideline by Munster’s Thomas Ahern with Crowley converting the first but missing the second from the touchline narrowly to leave it at 33-12.

Scotland replied with a try by Chamberlain under the posts which he converted, 33-19 and there was time for one more for Ireland with six minutes to go by Ciaran Ryan and one more by Scotland after 85 minutes by Cameron Scott.

Scorers for Ireland: Tries: J Crowley (2), T Clarkson, A Smith, T Ahern, C Ryan. Cons: J Crowley (4).

Scotland: Tries: E Ashman, J Blain, N Chamberlain, C Scott. con: N Chamberlain, C Scott.

IRELAND: O McNulty, E McIlroy, D Kelly, H Hyde, A Smith, J Crowley, L Finlay, C Ward, T Stewart, T Clarkson, B Deeny, T Ahern, S O’Brien, D McCann (capt), M Heman.

Replacements: L Faria for Hyde (54), J McKee for Steward, C Ryan for Ward (58), J McCarthy for Ahern (64) R McMahon Clarkson for A Soroka for Heman, B Murphy for Finlay (72) T Corkery for Crowley (74).

SCOTLAND: O Smith, J Henry, M Currie, R McCallum, J Blain, N Chamberlain, R Frostwick, A Maxwell, E Ashman, M Wilson, K Watt, C Henderson, J Hill, R Darge, C Boyle.

Replacements used: R Jackson, G Breese, T Lambert, J Campbell, K McGhie

Referee: G Gnecchi (Ita).