The fourth match of this year’s World Cup saw Headingley play host to the clash between debutants Jamaica and Ireland.
The more experienced Wolfhounds were the clear favourites in the bookmakers’ markets at 1-125 for the win, while the Reggae Warriors were 16-1.
Leeds’ Richie Myler got the game under way on his club home ground, as Ireland started their first game in three years. Ireland the best of the opening sets, with a cut-out pass to left winger Innes Senior looking like it would lead to and early score before he was pushed into touch.
Nevertheless, their front row dominated the middle for the first 10 minutes, but Jamaica held strong, even while they were playing mainly in their own half. The Jamaicans were first to cross the line after 10 minutes, but on-field ref Ben Casty ruled no-try, with the video ref endorsing him.
Just a minute later Louis Senior dotted the ball down in the right corner for Ireland, but clearly stepped onto the whitewash just before crossing.
However, he ran into a scoring space just two minutes later as the ball came out from the scrum and Ireland were 4-0 up. George King doubled the score on 15 minutes. Ed Chamberlain couldn’t get the ball through the posts for either conversion attempt, and the score stayed at 0-8.
By the time the stadium clock showed 18 minutes, Brendan O’Hagan powered over, converted by Chamberlain, to take the score to 0-14.
By the time the game hit the half hour mark, the Reggae Warriors’ play was getting scrappy, but they were still scrambling enough to snuff out Irish chances.
But when Ireland pressed down the right with numbers, the Jamaican defence ran out of steam. The Wolfhounds moved the ball through hands while pressing down the flank for Chamberlain to dart over in the corner. The conversion attempt bounced off the far upright, but now team in green lead 0-18.
Just as the hooter sounded for half time, Ireland gave away a penalty and Jamaica tried to kick it from just shy of 40m. Kieran Rush made no mistake, and the half-time score was 2-18.
When the second half got under way, Jamaica looked more disciplined and pressed the Irish line, but both teams displayed weaknesses when it came to retaining the ball, while Ireland found themselves kicking from within their own half to end sets in possession.
But Innes Senior got the Wolfhounds back into the groove when he gathered a pass from Myler at first receiver and dotted down in the corner. No conversion from the touchline put the score at 2-22.
Then Toby King added to Ireland’s score, pouncing on a Jo Keyes kick to dot down. Keyes converted - after previously hitting the post on three attempts - for a 2-28 score.
Louis Senior was the next to score, on the end of a soft Chamberlain pass, with Joe Keyes converting for a 2-32 score.
Ireland’s defence was dominating the game, while the tiring Jamaican defenders were providing too many scoring opportunities to their opponents.
That was demonstrated in the 72nd minute when Myler went on a teasing run through the Jamaican defence before moving the ball to the other side of the pitch where James McDonnell dashed through and scored. With no conversion, again, the score stood at 2-38
As the game entered its final five minutes, James Bentley found himself in possession for Ireland and ran for the line without one thought in his mind: to score a try. He did, and Keyes converted for a 2-44 score.
With less than 20 seconds left, Frankie Halton made a great supporting run and gathered a short pass to put Ireland within kicking distance of a half century. Keyes couldn’t oblige on this occasion, but Ireland had put their mark on the competition with a 48-2 win.
Half Time: 2-18.
Full Time: 2-48.
Score Progression: 0-4, 0-8, 0-12, 0-14, 0-18, 2-18 : HT : 2-22, 2-26, 2-28, 2-32, 2-34, 2-38, 2-42, 2-44, 2-48.
Lead Exchange: Ireland.
Jamaica: Golding; Jones-Bishop, Brown, Ogden, Young; Woodburn-Hall, Johnson; Ho, Rush (Pen), Lawrence, Tomlinson, Agoro, Andrade. Subs: Simpson, Peltier, Wallace, Jones, Bishop.
Ireland: Myler; I Senior (T), T King (T), Chamberlain (T, G), L Senior (2 T); Keary, Keyes (3 G); Byrne, Cook, Jolliffe, Bentley (T), Halton (T), Rushton, G King (T) Subs: O’Hagan (T), Hasson, McDonnell (T), Norman.
Venue: Headingley, Leeds.
Referee: Ben Casty.
