Dominant start for SA Under 18

MATCH REPORT: The South African Under-18 side enjoyed a solid start in the Under-18 International Series with a 38-26 victory over Ireland at Paarl Gimnasium on Friday afternoon.

The hosts enjoyed a deserved 21-12 lead at the break - having scored three converted tries in response to Ireland's two tries and one successful conversion attempt.

Two more converted tries on both sides followed in the second-half - which was characterised by a raft of replacements as both sides gave playing opportunities to their full matchday squads.

South Africa also slotted a long range penalty to ensure the margin is beyond seven points against a powerful Ireland side.

Lock Riley Norton - who was named the player of the match had a significant contribution in the set piece contests in the first half, with Ireland losing three lineout balls in a row and four after the break after sustained pressure.

The Ireland pack had a complete reversal of fortunes in the second stanza come scrum time when they had the hosts pack's number following the injection of forwards off the bench.

Ireland started the match perfectly when hooker Connor Magee scored from a well executed lineout maul to get the opening score of the match and take a 5-0 lead.

Just five minutes later - SA U18 centre Markus Muller replied with a score under the posts that originated from a stolen lineout and a clever kick into the 22 metre area of Ireland.

The hosts extended their lead soon after when a set-piece play resulted into score for wing Zekhethelo Siyaya under the posts to extend the lead to 14-5.

Ireland then hit back with a converted try through centre Jack Deegan, but the hosts hit straight back soon after when Siyaya went in for a brace after gathering a grubber kick from Muller with Ahmed slotting the conversion to extend the lead to 21-12 heading into the break.

The second-half was a test of character for the hosts when they conceded two yellow cards and the replacements stuggled to make the required impact off the bench.

Ireland made full use of the numerical advantage as Magee forced his way over the line for his brace which was converted to bring the visitors back within two points.

The hosts didn't give up as the pack started to get dominance and captain Sethu Mnebelele sealed a good personal outing with a try to extend the lead to 28-19 with just over half of the second stanza remaining.

Things got turned up a notch when outside back replacement Cheswill Jooste left the Irish blindside defence in tatters as he sprinted away for another converted try which was converted by fullback Akahluwa Boqwana.

The match was practically sealed when replacement back Vusi Moyo stepped up to slot a long range penalty attempt to take the game away from the visitors at 38-19 - despite Ireland hitting back later on with a fourth try.

In the earlier matches that took place on Friday - England's replacement bench managed to overturn a 10-20 deficit at the break to earn a hard fought 27-20 victory over Georgia for their first win of the series.

The U18 International Series concludes next Tuesday when South Africa face England and Ireland come up against Gerogia at Paarl Boys' High's Brug Street fields.

Scorers:

For South Africa:

Tries: Muller, Mnebelele, Jooste, Siyaya 2

Cons: Ahmed 3, Boqwana 2

Pen: Moyo

For Ireland:

Tries: Deegan, Conway, Magee 2

Cons: Wood, O'Shaughnessy

Image credits: SA Rugby