Irish’s Students Battle To High-Scoring Draw With Ireland

The academy forwards coach, who is assistant coach of the Students, saw his side start brightly when Mark Dixon shoved aside an Irish defender to touch down for the game’s first try.

Ireland responded in the 17th minute with a penalty by right wing, Bryan Mollen – but it was England who got on the score sheet next courtesy of Sunderland flanker, Simon Uzokwe, who bulldozed his way across for a try.

That changed quickly as Mollen scored an easy try on the right side before running adding a second on 31 minutes.

It looked as if Ireland would be heading into the break with the lead, but Loughborough’s Sam Pointon had other ideas, speeding away under the posts. Kaye converted and the players headed to the dressing rooms with the scores knotted at 19-19.

In the second half, it was Ireland who struck first with Nick Peters scoring a converted try.

But with Mollen in the sin-bin, Pointon notched his second try and Kaye’s conversion made it 26 points apiece.

The side exchanged penalties before

England’s Tom Stileman crashed over and Kaye’s conversion made it 36-29 with just minutes remaining – but Ireland leveled the scores late on to ensure a share of the spoils.

England Students will now head to Bristol to continue training in preparation for a mammoth clash with French Universities on Friday, April 7 at the Coombe Dingle Sports Complex.

Information on ticketing can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/england-students-vs-france-students-tickets-32959126635