Ireland Clubs Record Victory In France

In front of a 1,228-strong crowd at Stade Jules Ladoumègue the Ireland Club international team overcame the France Fédérale side 16-12 in Massy on Friday night.

Coached by Paul Cunningham (Old Belvedere) and captained by Clontarf centre Matt D'Arcy, who was invovled with Munster earlier this season, this was an historic result for Ireland's Ulster Bank League stars as they won on their first ever visit to France.

Last year's inaugural meeting of the countries' club elite saw the French outfit claim a four-try 37-20 victory at the Aviva Stadium, but Ireland's defence was very much on top tonight with back row workhorses Paul Pritchard and Tony Ryan competing ferociously throughout at the breakdown and tackle area.

Former Munster out-half and Corkman Scott Deasy, now playing his club rugby with Lansdowne, kicked 11 of the 16 points while replacement lock Connor Smyth from Ballymena blocked an attempted clearance in the French 22 and collected the loose ball to score the game's only try in the 66th minute.

D'Arcy and his team-mates will aim to complete their short international campaign with a second win when they entertain their Scottish counterparts at Temple Hill in Cork on Friday, March 18 (kick-off 7.30pm).

Ireland Club XV Scorers: Try – Connor Smyth; Con – Scott Deasy; Pens – Scott Deasy 3.

Ireland Club XV: Daniel Riordan (Old Belvedere); James McInerney (Garryowen), Stephen Murphy (UCD), Matt D'Arcy (Clontarf) (capt), Mark Roche (Lansdowne); Scott Deasy (Lansdowne), Angus Lloyd (Dublin University); Ian Prendiville (Lansdowne), Eddie Rossiter (Old Belvedere), Declan Lavery (Old Belvedere), Ciaran Ruddock (St. Mary's College), David Whann (Ballymena), Charlie Butterworth (Lansdowne), Paul Pritchard (Ballynahinch), Tony Ryan (Clontarf).

Replacements used: Connor Smyth (Ballymena) for Whann (half-time), Ger Sweeney (Cork Constitution for Lavery, Ivan Soroka (Clontarf) for Prendiville (both 53 mins), Neil Cronin (Garryowen) for Lloyd, Rodger McBurney (Ballymena) for Riordan (both 60), Max Abbott (Cork Constitution) for Rossiter, Adrian D'Arcy (Clontarf) for Butterworth (both 70), Jack McDermott (Dublin University) for Deasy (79).