Ireland beat Scotland to set up Welsh showdown

Wales need to win or draw against Ireland next Saturday in Dublin if they are to qualify for the Rugby League European Nations Cup Final in Carcassonne on Saturday 5 November.

This is after Ireland withstood a second-half onslaught in Glasgow on Sunday, to clinch a sixth successive win over Scotland.

Ireland controlled the first half and led 10-0 after 27 minutes with tries by Salford half-back Karl Fitzpatrick and Warrington winger Dean Gaskill.

Castleford's Paul Handforth converted the latter try after Fitzpatrick had intercepted a Scotland attack and raced 70 metres before offloading to Gaskill.
In an error-strewn game played in damp conditions at Old Anniesland, there was no more scoring for over 40 minutes.

Scotland dominated second-half possession but could find no way through an excellent Irish defence.

The hosts badly missed the inventiveness of scrum-half Danny Brough, who came on as a substitute and only lasted 12 minutes before being carried off with a bruised fibula.

Ireland rarely got out of their half after the break, but extended their lead 10 minutes from time when Billy Treacy of Treaty City kicked a penalty for an infringement at the play-the-ball in front of the posts.

Scotland were running out of time when skipper Dave McConnell finally put some points on the board. Andrew Henderson kept the ball alive and McConnell touched down his 76th minute grubber kick.

Gareth Morton's conversion reduced the deficit to six points but when debutant Mick Nanyn knocked-on as Scotland mounted a final assault, their last chance disappeared.
Ireland’s 12-6 win puts them in second place in Group A. Wales head the group on points difference due to their 22-14 win over Scotland last week.

In Group B on Sunday, Russia beat Georgia 48-18 in Moscow. This result means that Georgia will have to beat France by at least 60 points in Tiblisi next Sunday to qualify for the Final.

France lost 22-12 in a friendly international against England at Headingley on Sunday while England’s A side, who beat Wales 36-32 last month, lost to Malta 36-6 on Saturday in the first-ever rugby league international played on Maltese soil.

Scotland: Liddell, Steel, Nanyn, Morton, Flockhart, McConnell, Henderson, R. McDonald, Fisher, Fletcher, I. Morrison, I. Morrison, Wilkes, Marsh. Replacements: Brough, Szostak, Surtees, McPhail.

This article was originally posted on 24-Oct-2005, 08:35 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 24-Oct-2005, 11:50.