The Front Row Union

Ireland’s sevens side (featuring five Ulstermen, past and present) finished fourth in the European Sevens Championship to qualify for next year’s IRB Sevens World Cup in Dubai.

Campbell, Cave, Henry, Mallon and Maxwell all got on the score sheet for Ireland at the European Sevens Championship in Germany.

It was definitely a case of The Glorious Twelfth, on the 12th July, as Ireland secured qualification by finishing second in their pool despite losing to eventual pool winners Wales in their second match.

The Ulster contingent must have been out marching later that day as they only won one further match on Day 2. A win over Poland saw them through to the semi finals where they lost narrowly to eventual champions Portugal. This was followed by a loss to Georgia in the 3rd/4th place play off but by this stage qualification for the IRB Sevens World Cup was already secured.

Andrew Maxwell led the scoring with five tries, Seamus Mallon and Darren Cave chipped in with two a piece and Kieran Campbell and Chris Henry each scored one each.

Match details from the Hannover Sevens.

Day 1. Pool Fixtures

Ireland-Ukraine: 26-7
Match over. 26-7 for Ireland.
Ireland scores on right corner through Andrew Maxwell. No conversion.
Ireland scores mid goal through Seamus Mallon. Conversion is good.
Second half begins.
Ukraine almost with the second try but now it`s half-time. 14-7 for Ireland.
Ireland in the lead again through Ian Keatley. Conversion is good.
Ukraine fights back with try by Oleg Kvasnitsa mid goal. Conversion is
Ireland scores first through Kieran Campbell. Conversion is good.

Wales-Ireland: 26-14
The match is over! 26-14 for Wales!
Wales increases the lead with a try by Alec Jenkins. Conversion by Lee Williams is good.
Wales is back in the lead after a great try by Ian Keatley. Conversion by Martin Roberts is good.
Just before half-time, Ireland can level the score with a try by James Coughlan. The conversion was really difficult and … good! Ireland leads 14-12.
Andrew Powell bring Wales back in the lead. No conversion.
Ireland comes back through a great try by Andrew Maxwell. Ian Keatley levels the score with the conversion.
Wales scores the first try through James Lewis. Martin Roberts converts.

Ireland-Italy: 17-12
Ireland uses advantage for another try for Cave. Conversion is not good. Match is over.
Yellow card against Italy`s Onori.
Ireland levels the score with Darren Cave`s try. Conversion is not good.
Italy scores again with Alessandro Onori. Conversion is good.
Italy scores just before half-time with Tomas Pucciariello. No conversion. It`s half-time.
Ireland uses this advantage for first try by Brian Tuohy. Conversion is good.
Yellow card against Italy.

Ireland-Belgium: 31-0
Final result is 31-0.
Ireland scores the fifth try in injury-time by Christopher Henry. No conversion.
Ireland puts the game beyond doubt with another try by Briggs. No conversion.
The third try is his, too. His own conversion again makes it 21-00.
Maxwell scores the 2nd try himself now. His own conversion is good, too. Half-time: 14-00.
Ireland scores first with Richard Briggs. Conversion by Andrew Maxwell is successful.

Day Two. Knockout.

Ireland-Poland: 17-7
The match is over. Ireland wins 17-7.
… but Andrew Maxwell extends the lead again for Ireland. He can`t convert his own try.
Poland scores with Maciej Maciejewski and the conversion by Banaszeck is good.
Ireland scores again with Seamus Mallon and the conversion is good. Half-time.
Ireland scores their first try of the day with Ian Keatley. No conversion.

Portugal-Ireland: 14-12
That`s the end! Portugal is in the final of the PEUGEOT Hannover Sevens! Congratulations!
Ireland is back with Keatley`s second try. Conversion is not successful.
Ireland closes the gap with a try by Ian Keatley. His own conversion is successful.
Portugese captain Diogo Mateus increases the lead with his try. Conversion is successful from far left.
The second half begins.
Portugal leads at half-time 7-0.
And Pedro Leal is through. He converts his own try.
Yellow card against Ireland.
Knock-on from Portugal in Irish try-area.
The match begins. The winner of this match progresses to the cup-final.

For 3rd place - Ireland-Georgia: 7-26
The match is over ! Georgia wins third place and hence the bronze medal!!!
Georgia with final try by Simon Maisuradze. The conversion is successful.
A small fight leads to a yellow card against Georgia and one against Ireland.
Georgia scores again, this time with Jaba Bregvadze. The conversion is successful.
… and Georgia scores the first try by Irakli Gegenava. The conversion is successful.
The second half begins …
It`s half-time now.
Yellow card against Georgia for punching.
Ireland comes back with a good try by Cian Aherne. Keatley converts.
Georgia scores the first try by Simon Masuradze. No conversion.

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