Finn eyes last eight battle
FAIRWAY TO HEAVEN (20) L Carter 8 9-7 (D3) ............ A Kirby BROADHAVEN HONEY (13) R Harris 3 9-6 ............. D Probert WILD FLOWER (44) J Fox 5 9-4 (D2) ............... Hollie Doyle (3) QUITE A STORY (54) Archie Watson 5 9-4 (D2) ........ E Greatrex TRIPLE DREAM (34) J Bradley 12 9-3 (D4) ...... K Raybould (7) HISAR (4) M Appleby 3 9-1 (BF) ........................... A Rawlinson JUSTICE ROCK (7) P McEntee 4 9-0 (D2) ..... Josephine Gordon THORNTOUN LADY (4) J Goldie 7 8-12...Connor Murtagh (5) EMILENE (4) W Brisbourne 3 8-10 ............................ Doubtful WIMBOLDSLEY (64) S Dixon 6 8-7 (C, D2) ................. K O’Neill JACKSONFIRE (21) M Mullineaux 5 8-7 .......... Phil Dennis (3) AMBITIOUS BOY (29) J G O’Shea 8 8-7 (CD) .............. F Norton DALALAH (14) R C Guest 4 8-7 ............................. Rob Hornby BETTING: 4 Fairway To Heaven, 5 Hisar, 11-2 Wild Flower, 6 Quite A Story, 7 Triple Dream, 8 Justice Rock, 14 Wimboldsley, Ambitious Boy, 20 Others. (34) W Brisbourne 8 9-7 (C) ..... F Norton (23) A B Joyce (IRE) 4 9-6 ...................... A Kirby (29) R Harris 6 9-4 (D3) .......... D Probert (34) G Bravery 4 9-4 (D) ......................... P Cosgrave (34) P Hiatt 6 9-3 (D3) ......... William Cox (7) (11) Archie Watson 3 9-1 ......................... E Greatrex (9) P McEntee 6 8-13 (BF, CD3) ............... J Gordon (49) J Goldie 5 8-9 ................................. S Mooney (7) (250) M Usher 4 8-9 ......................... Nicola Currie (7) (26) J Holt 6 8-7 (D3) ................................ P Mathers (22) J Long 5 8-7 (D2) .............. Hollie Doyle (3) (29) Grace Harris 4 8-7 ......................... J Quinn (75) K C-Brown 5 8-7 ................... Doubtful IRELAND captain Liam Finn set his sights on a World Cup quarter-final clash with England after helping his side to a 36-12 win over Italy.
The Wolfhounds overcame sweltering conditions in Cairns to run in six tries, two of them from winger Liam Kay, to brush aside an Italian side that were fancied to reach the knockout stages.
Ireland, the only home nation to emerge victorious from the first round of fixtures, now take on Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby next Sunday, hoping to halt a side that hammered Wales 50-6.
“It was a very good performance,” said Finn, who kicked six goals from seven attempts. “I was really proud of everyone involved. Our forwards were massive.
“We trained really well in the two weeks leading up to it and I knew we were going to put in a performance, but we didn’t know what Italy were going to turn up with.”
The game was twice held up for drinks breaks but there was no stopping the Irish, who wrapped up an impressive victory with second-half tries from St Helens forwards Kyle Amor and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Canterbury centre Michael Morgan.
“The conditions were ridiculous really,” Finn said. “I don’t know whose idea it was to kick off at 2pm.
“They were as tough as you can get, although saying that we go to Port Moresby next week so maybe that will be tougher. I hope that’s good preparation.
“I don’t think the drinks breaks made that much difference. There were enough stoppages in the game to have water.”