Wales and France meet in Albi France next Saturday in a winner takes all match for the Alitalia European Cup and a place in the 2011 Four Nations tournament to take on England, Australia and New Zealand. This is after Wales edged a 31-30 win over Ireland in a nail bighting match at The Gnoll in Neath on Sunday.
Wales took the lead on four minutes when Mark Lennon scored in the corner. Ireland levelled on 17 minutes when Tim Bergin touched down in the corner and McNally added the extras. Ireland extended their lead as McNally scored and converted. Wales escaped further punishment when Luke Ambler touched down over the dead-ball line. Wales took advantage and Lennon got his second Wales scored again through Ian Webster with Lloyd White adding the extras for the half-time score of 14-12.
Ireland regained the lead six minutes after the interval when Finnigan set up Ryan Boyle to go over from close range. McNally converted.
But Wales came back on 58 minutes when Rhys Williams scored in the corner after a period of strong Welsh pressure. White, who had now taken a grip on the game with a number of outstanding moves, converted again. However in this tight encounter Ireland regained the lead five minutes later as Luke Ambler grounded and McNally converted.
But the pendulum swung Wales’ way again on 68 minutes when Roets was set up by White to score with the White converting again.
Shortly after Rhys Williams went over but White missed the kick to leave Wales just six points ahead. Briers looked to have made things safe with a drop goal but Ireland weren’t finished yet as McNally scored and converted his own try on 77 minutes. The game was finally sealed with 70 seconds remaining on the clock when Ireland’s Tim Bergin fumbled a pass on the wing giving Wales possession that they didn’t lose. Giving us the final score of:
Wales 31-30 Ireland
Scorers
Wales: Tries: Lennon (4, 31), Webster (39), Williams (58, 72), Roets (68)
Goals: Briers 0/2, White 3/4
Field-goal: Briers
Ireland: Tries: Bergin (17), McNally (20), Boyle (46), Ambler (63), McNally (77)
Goals: McNally 5/5
Teams
Wales
1. Andrew Gay (South Wales Scorpions)
2. Mark Lennon (Cronulla Sharks)
3. Gareth Thomas (Crusaders)
4. Christiaan Roets (South Wales Scorpions)
5. Rhys Williams (Warrington Wolves)
6. Lee Briers (Warrington Wolves)
7. Danny Jones (Keighley Cougars)
8. Jordan James (Crusaders)
9. Lloyd White (Crusaders)
10. Jacob Emmitt (St Helens)
11. Chris Beasley (Central Queensland Comets)
12. Aled James (South Wales Scorpions)
13. Ian Webster (Central Queensland Comets)
Subs
14. Ben Flower (Crusaders)
15. Ross Divorty (Featherstone Rovers)
16. Jordan Ross (York City Knights)
17. Neil Budworth (Mackay Cutters)
Ireland
1. Greg McNally (Huddersfield Giants)
2. Tim Bergin (Sheffield Eagles)
3. James Haley (Halifax)
4. Jamie O’Callaghan (Harlequins)
5. John Gillam (Oldham)
6. Scott Grix (Huddersfield Giants)
7. Liam Finn (Featherstone Rovers)
8. Ryan Boyle (Salford City Reds)
9. Bob Beswick (Halifax)
10. Bret McDermott (Barrow RaiderS)
11. Simon Finnigan (Huddersfield Giants)
12. Luke Ambler (Leeds Rhinos)
13. Matthew Fox (Dewsbury Rams)
Subs:
14. Sean Hesketh (Batley Bulldogs)
15. Wayne Kerr (Oldham)
16. Matt Ashe (Oldham)
17. Joseph Taylor (North Dublin Eagles)
Referee: Thierry Alibert (France)
Attendance: 2,165