Wales pull off a thriller

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Category: international_news

Published on Monday, 06 February 2012 00:08

Written by Sachin David

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The third game of Week one in the RBS six Nations was set to be a thriller encounter as the mighty Dragons of Wales toured play the fighting Irish.

Wales who were behind for most of the game sealed victory in a last minute penalty from the boot of Leigh halfpenny to take the game 23-21. Wales who dominated for most of the half found themselves trailing at lemmons having been guilty of not making their superiority pay.

Both place kickers Sexton and Rhys Priestland were struggling to find their stride missing a few simple penalties in the half. The hosts took an early lead in the half through a Jonathan Sexton Penalty from 35m out. The Welsh went over the line minutes later but were denied the points by the TV match official. TMO was brought into play once again 4 minutes later as Wales winger Jonathan Davies went over at the left corner flag and was awarded the 5 points, Priestland sent the conversion wide.

A try from Ireland hooker Rory Best and the conversion and the boot of Sexton saw the hosts take back a tem point lead which they held till the end of the half. The Second half provided some exciting rugby with both teams playuing open quick rugby trying to score tries. Sexton extended the lead to 8 points with another penalty early in the half. Leigh Halfpenny took over the kicking duties from Priestland who was continuing to have a bad day and sent the ball sailing through the uprights. Davies crossed the line again mid way through the half to equalize as Halfpenny’s conversion gave the visitors a 15-13 lead. Back came Ireland with captain Paul O'Connell spearheading his side's riposte that resulted in another Sexton penalty that saw the game swing back in the hosts' favour.

Bradley Davies was sin-binned for a tip tackle off the ball on Ireland replacement Donnacha Ryan who had moments earlier smashed into the Welshman at a ruck. Ryan escaped sanction but Davies too can count himself lucky with referee Wayne Barnes and assistant Dave Pearson deciding it did not warrant a red card. Two delightful passes from Sexton and fullback Rob Kearney putting Bowe over in the corner. Sexton failed to add the extras.

Man of the match George North dragged the visitors back into the game with a very late try to take the score to 20-21 with Halfpenny’s conversion from the far right going astray. With 2 minutes left in the game Ireland's Stephen Ferris was the next to be sin-binned for another tip-tackle and it proved costly as Halfpenny stepped up to slot in a fairly easy penalty to take the game.

Next Weeks Fixtures:

Sat 11th Feb- Italy v England, Olympic Stadium, Rome

Sat 11th Feb- France v Ireland, Stade de France, Paris

Sun 12th Feb- Wales v Scotland, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

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