First Test: Australia 56 (3-10-8) Ireland 46 (1-10-10)
Ireland will have to overcome a 10-point deficit in the second test of the International Rules Series next Friday, if they are to continue their 100 per cent record in tours Down Under.
The first test in Perth finished with a fitter, slicker Australia running out 56-46 winners, with three goals in the final two quarters helping them to surge in front after trailing by five points at half time.
Australia 56 (3-10-8) Ireland 46 (1-10-10)
Australia, who had not won the opening test in a home series since 1986, were expected to put up a sterner fight this time around with coach Garry Lyon focusing on building the kind of team spirit that saw them take the series in Dublin last year. His side prepared this week at a training camp in Bunbury, outside Perth.
After a slow start by the Aussies, they quickly recovered and took a stranglehold on the game as it progressed.
The home side out-scored Ireland 16-7 in the second period, 20-9 in the third and 7-5 in the fourth. Ireland's kicking worsened as the game went on, most notably in the third quarter when a string of behinds undermined their efforts. Also, the visitors passing became sloppy and basic defensive errors began to creep in after an energy-sapping game, and the all-attacking Aussies secured mark after mark deep within scoring range.
What really killed off Ireland was the concession of three goals. The first came after an unfortunate deflection off Cormac McAnallen 18 minutes into the third quarter. Brad Johnson found himself with acres of space on the right side of the field, close to goals, and sprinted closer. He had made the angle too tight by the time he looked up to shoot, but as the ball skidded across the face of the goal, McAnallen's trailing leg pinged the ball into the net.
That score closed the gap to just two points at 40-38, but an over just a minute later from the huge, and hugely impressive Barry Hall, handed the Aussies the lead for the first time since the fifth minute. It got worse minutes later when Chris Johnson was upended in the area and dispatched the resulting penalty to the net, giving the whip-hand decisively to the home side for the first time.
Ireland were feeling the pinch at this stage and yet only trailed by six points at the start of the final quarter, 47-41. However, the scores simply wouldn't come and the death knell sounded when captain Shane Crawford was left unmarked in the small rectangle to kick in Australia's third goal - poor defending by Ireland.
Ireland's solitary goal came from Benny Coulter early in the first quarter, at a time when the Australians were clearly struggling to get on the pace of the game. The young Down footballer, making his International Rules debut, powered through the home defence before dummying past a defender and striking a shot low at goalkeeper Glen Jakovich, who could only parry it into the net. It was all going swimmingly for Ireland at this stage but Australia upped the ante considerably after that and were full value for their win - they made better use of the ball, exploited their physical advantage to the full and took their scoring chances much better than Ireland.
With ten points to make up, Ireland's hopes of taking the series home look to be in peril. Australia sit firmly in the driving seat, and given the occasion which the test in Melbourne will precede - the Rugby World Cup between the same countries - it is almost certain to be played in front of a large home following.
Best performers in the first test were Barry Hall for Australia, scorer of 13 points whose size up front presented Ireland with a problem they couldn't solve, while captain Graham Canty and Armagh's Steven McDonnell, who landed 16, showed best for the visitors.
AUSTRALIA - Glen Jakovich; Luke Power, Matthew Scarlett, Jared Crouch; Brad Johnson, Lenny Hayes, Brett Kirk, Shane Crawford (Captain), Chris Johnson (Vice Capt); Adam Simpson, Barry Hall, Nathan Brown; Paul Hasleby, Matthew Pavlich, Daniel Wells. Interchange (eight of 10 to play): Leo Barry, Mark Bickley, Clint Bizzell, Matthew Carr, Brent Harvey, Robert Murphy, Jade Rawlings, Jess Sinclair, Rohan Smith, David Wirrapunda.
IRELAND - Enda Murphy; Paddy Christie, Anthony Lynch, Cormac McAnallen; Sean Martin Lockhart, Kieran McGeeney, Graham Canty; Paul McGrane, Ciaran McManus; Joe Bergin, Benny Coulter, Padraig Joyce; Steven McDonnell, Brian McDonald, Dessie Dolan. Interchange: Colin Corkery, Gary Cox, Cathal Daly, Stephen Kelly, Shane Ryan, Joe Higgins, Kevin Hughes, Tom Kelly.
Match details:
AUSTRALIA 0.3.2 - 0.7.6 - 2.9.8 - 3.10.8 (56)
IRELAND 1.6.1 - 1.8.2 - 1.9.8 - 1.10.10 (46)
Goals:
Australia: Brad Johnson, Chris Johnson, Shane Crawford. Overs: Barry Hall 4, Matthew Pavlich, Lenny Hayes, Nathan Brown, Clint Bizzell, Paul Hasleby, Brett Harvey.
Ireland: Brendan Coulter Overs: Steven McDonnell 5, Padraig Joyce, Ciaran McManus, Kevin Hughes, Kieran McGeeney, Joe Higgins.
Attendance: 41,228 at Subiaco Oval.
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