Ireland took the lead after four minutes when fly-half Harry Byrne punished a Welsh indiscretion inside the hosts’ 22 with a penalty kick.
Three minutes later, Wales number eight Taine Basham – the Newport Gwent Dragons prospect on familiar ground at the region’s training base – showed a winger’s pace to sprint in for a try from just inside the Irish half. Fly-half Cai Evans converted for a 7-3 advantage.
Evans was again on hand moments later to add a further three points with a powerful penalty kick to take the scores to 10-3.Â
The Welsh backs started putting together some audacious phases of play, and were desperately unlucky not to convert their ambitions into points. Until around the 25th minute, that is, wing Tomi Lewis outstripped a large chunk of the Irish defence to find the supporting Harri Morgan for the scrum-half’s try. Evans’s conversion made it 17-3.
Imperious play by the Welsh backs resulted in centre Tom Hoppe scoring under the posts. His effort was converted by Evans for a 24-10 half-time lead.
The second half had just begun when good footwork from Irish replacement Craig Casey in the Welsh 22 was enough to hold the Welsh defence and put away scrum-half Cormac Foley for Ireland’s second try, converted by Byrne.
Fullback James McCarthy then put Wales five points up in the 44th minute, showing too much gas for the men in green to touch down in the corner.
Ireland soon reduced the deficit to 12 points when strong aerial work by Kernohan saw him take a crossfield kick at pace for a try converted by Byrne.
When Wales were penalised with fewer than ten minutes left, Ireland kicked to touch for a 5m lineout in the Welsh 22. From there they were able breach the Welsh line on a crash ball for an Eoin Barr try converted by Byrne.
Wales did incredibly well in defence to hold up the Irish attacker over the line with time almost up on the clock, but the momentum had noticeably swung in the visitors’ favour and moments later they had driven the ball over the line for a try by No8 Dan O’Donovan, which Byrne converted.
With the scores at 36-38, Wales were handed a last-gasp opportunity for the win when they were awarded a penalty after a high tackle. However, it wasn’t to be, as the long-range effort was marginally wide for the last action of the match.
