Ireland, buoyed by their showing against England, produced a stunning first forty minutes to overrun the competition debutants and dark horses Serbia.

Two tries each from prop Glen Holland and winger Patrick Flynn led the charge; Danny Gregory, the excellent Chris Forster and full back David Heathwood also crossing before half time.

The Serbians hit back strongly after the break, exhibiting great handling skills to dominate, with Warrington Wizards’ try scorer Soni Radovanovi and Dalibor Vukanovic, who added three conversions, to the fore.

Ireland finished with ten touchdowns; Bernard Westerman bringing up the half century and stand off Forster ending with 18 points.

Ireland
1. David Heathwood
19 Patrick Flynn
3 Adam Walsh
4. Mike Fairclough
17 Bernard Westman
6 Chris Forster
7 Adam Wilson
12 Glen Holland
15 Danny Gregory
8 Neil Belshaw
11 Craig Foster
14 Daniel Newlove
13 Tyrone McArthy

Subs (all used)
2 Paul Rugby
10 Adam Boughen
16 Si Holden
18 Ste Lenihan

Tries: Flynn (3, 27), Holland (6, 9), Gregory (24), Chris Forster (29, 64), Heathwood (33), Walsh (67), Westman (70)
Goals: Forster 7

Serbia
1 Ivan Mitic
2 Milan Radojevic
3 Dalibor Vukanovic
11 Darko Nerandzic
5 Marko Milosavjevic
6 Mate Granic
7 Milan Susnjara
8 Boris Martic
9 Ivan Susnjara
10 Popovic Vukasin
4 Nemanja Babic
12 Nemanja Popsogorovic
13 Soni Radovanovic

Subs (all used)
14 Branko Vojvodic
15 Zlatko Pesic
16 Marko Dulovic
17 Filip Brkic

Tries: Radovanovic (43, 56), Radojevic (59)
Goals: Vukanovic 3

Sin Bin: I. Susnjara (48)

article by Phil Caplan
8 July 2006