WEDNESDAY, 12.30PM:
IRELAND beat the North-West mealie farmers by 26-18 in a scrappy rugby tour match played at Olien Park in Potchefstroom on Tuesday.
The match was a poor one, with both teams giving away too many penalties — 15 each. North-West were soon trailing the Irish 12-0, after being heavily penalised in the opening minutes. David Humphreys did the kicking for the Irish.
The home side tried desperately to catch up to the Irish, and in the first 15 minutes of the second half they struck back.
Etienne Bouwer scored North-West’s first try, after which AC Prinsloo went over for the second, levelling the scores.
Irish winger Richard Wallace then turned on the taps and scored the only try for the visitors, effectively halting the North West charge. In scoring the try, Wallace probably booked himself a place in the team that will take on the Springboks on Saturday.