England produced a solid start to their Student Four Nations defence when they saw off Ireland 46-0 in Pontypridd on Sunday afternoon.
Ireland started well and nearly scored, Ellis Keppel was held up over the line. However, the momentum went England’s way after Jamie Gill was yellow carded for delaying a restart.
Just before he came back on, England took the lead on 14 minutes with a Luke Phoenix try in the right corner. Jack Mallinson converted.
England doubled their lead from kick-off. Joe Riley raced away, with Charlie McCurrie in support, who passed back to Riley who placed the ball just left of the sticks giving Mallinson an easy shot on goal.
As thunder boomed from the sky, former Hull KR centre Joe Wardill twisted over for England’s third try, scored on 24 minutes, which went unconverted and they led 16-0 at the break as the heavens opened.
Six minutes into the second half, Mallinson crossed for England’s fourth try of the game. Joe Riley added the next with Mallinson again improving both.
England were reduced to 12 after Christian Gale was sin binned for a late hit but it didn’t make any difference.
Nathan Rushworth powered in under the sticks with seven minutes remaining for England’s sixth, with Mallinson easily landing the kick.
Jake Lightowler soon added their seventh with Mallinson again kicking well to further improve the score.
The final word went to Nathan Redmond who sprinted over 50 metres for a try in the final move of the game with Mallinson again converting.
England go into the next round with a clean sheet, facing Scotland at 3.30pm on Wednesday 12th July at the same venue.
ENGLAND 46 IRELAND 0
ENGLAND
21 Iwan Orr (Leeds Beckett University)
22 Luke Phoenix (Loughborough University)
3 Joe Wardill (Leeds Beckett University)
4 Leon Stewart (University of Hull)
5 Jack Cherry (University of Nottingham)
23 Jack Mallinson (Leeds Beckett University)
7 Joe Riley (University of Leeds)
8 Christian Gale (London South Bank University)
9 Alfie Crawford (Leeds Beckett University)
10 Jordan Bull (Leeds Beckett University)
11 Charlie McCurrie (University of Leicester)
12 Daniel White (Northumbria University)
13 Jake Lightowler (Northumbria University)
Subs:
1 Nathan Redmond (Loughborough University)
6 Matty Rudd (Manchester Metropolitan University)
16 Aaron Powell (University of Warwick)
29 Nathan Rushworth (Northumbria University)
18th:
15 Adam Lavin (Lancaster University)
Tries: Phoenix (14), Riley (17), Wardill (24), Mallinson (46), Riley (55), Rushworth (73), Lightowler (37), Redmond (80)
Goals: Mallinson 7/8
Sin Bin (70) Christian Gale – Late Hit
IRELAND
4 Ellis Keppel (Liverpool John Moores University)
16 Eoin Creaby (Atlantic Technological University, Galway)
15 David Goodman (University of Limerick)
5 Louis O’Sullivan (Hartpury College)
2 Harry Worsley (Liverpool John Moores University)
14 Jake Murray (Maynooth University)
7 Thomas Ashurst (Priestly College)
8 Paul Bolger (University College Dublin)
9 Ryan Hogg (Technological University of the Shannon)
10 Jamie Gill (Wath Academy)
11 Conor Creaby (Atlantic Technological University, Galway)
12 Samuel Winney (St Mary’s University)
13 James Mulvaney (Leeds Beckett University)
Subs:
17 Alex Duff (Technological University, Dublin)
18 Josh Hawthorne (Loughborough University)
19 Louis Collins (University College London)
20 Sean Tracey (Technological University, Meath)
18th:
1 Nathan Connell (Coach Core Apprentices)
Sin Bin (7) – Jamie Gill – Delaying Restart
Referee: Kristoff Young
Half-time: 16-0
