IRELAND SEVENS GOT their Hong Kong campaign off to a perfect start this morning with wins over the Cook Islands and Jamaica.
Anthony Eddy’s men began the tournament, in which victory will secure a place in the Sevens World Series, with a dominant 41 – 5 win over the Cook Islands early this morning with Terry Kennedy crossing the whitewash twice in a seven-try win.
Their second pool match of the day has just finished in a 26 – 0 win over Jamaica.
The shut-out win began with a Jimmy O’Brien try after excellent defensive energy from Harry McNulty to force a turnover penalty inside the Jamaican 22.
Kennedy scorched in for his third try of the tournament off a pass from Mark Roche to make it 12 – 0 at half-time.
McNulty led the pressure play at the start of the second half too, and when a penalty was awarded 15 metres out, the imposing forward quick-tapped and darted in under the posts.
Shane Daly completed Ireland’s day one try-scoring. As they Eddy’s men pushed for a fifth against Jamaica, they had to work hard, late in the Hong Kong heat to prevent a breakaway consolation score, a crucial tackle from Roche added to his three conversions to keep the 26-point deficit to maintain a higher points difference than pool rivals Uruguay.
The South Americans also sit on two wins from two today after beating Jamaica 22 – 5 and the Cook Islands 38 – 0. The pool decider will kick off at 2.22AM tonight (watch on World Rugby Sevens Facebook page).