Ireland 36-12 Italy: Wolfhounds bag opening World Cup win
By Ben Proe
Last Updated: 29/10/17 8:50am
Liam Finn produced a tactical masterclass as Ireland kicked off their quest for World Cup glory with a 36-12 victory over a star-studded Italy side in a Group C/D crossover match.
Producing an almost faultless first 40 with the wind at their backs, Mark Aston's men were on the board before the Azzurri had even touched the ball - Liam Kay with the opener inside two minutes.
And when Michael McIlorum's grubber was touched down by an onside George King, Ireland had two tries in seven minutes and a 12-0 lead.
The Italians hit back, but Jack Johns' pass was ruled forward - and instead, the Wolfhounds continued their almost point-a-minute progression when Finn kicked a penalty following Italian interference to make it 14-0 Ireland at the drinks break, although the Wolfhounds should have extended that advantage when Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook bombed a glorious left-edge overlap.
Inside four minutes of the restart, Finn produced a superb tackle to deny Justin Castellaro - and when James Tedesco came up with a forward pass in the face of more outstanding Irish defence, the Wolfhounds had demonstrated their attacking credentials within two minutes, as the Wolfpack's Kay made his a double, Finn nailing the extras from the touchline to make it 20-0 Ireland.
It was 37 minutes until Ireland finally leaked a try - as local plumber Castellaro plundered a Scott Grix pass to go 80 metres, and cut the Wolfhounds' interval lead to 20-6.
Within two minutes of the restart, the same two players were involved in arguably the key moment of the contest, when the Wakefield fullback spilled a grubber kick - but the Northern Pride winger knocked on with the line at his mercy.
The Azzurri did double their total on 46 minutes, when former Hull KR winger Josh Mantellato did brilliantly to tip a huge Ryan Ghietti bomb into the arms of Nathan Milone - but the Wolfhounds sealed a famous win with two tries in six minutes approaching the hour mark; Kyle Amor leading an unforgettable jig having powered over for 26-12, before Michael Morgan helped himself to the easiest of touchdowns after Tedesco lost his footing.
A late McCarthy-Scarsbrook effort crowned a comprehensive win - next up, the Wolfhounds follow Wales to Port Moresby, with a quarter-final place at stake.
