Rugby Union: Irish open North American tour by routing Canada
AFP
VANCOUVER - Barry Murphy, Ian Whitten and Tony Buckley each scored a try and Ian Keatley booted two penalty kicks to give Ireland a 25-6 victory over Canada here on Saturday in an international rugby match.
The Irish took command with a try in the 63rd minute, Ulsterman first-capper Whitten taking a pass from centre Darren Cave and scoring with Keatley, another making his senior-level debut, adding the conversion for a 20-6 Ireland edge.
Ireland grabbed the lead in the 18th minute when Cave chipped a kick to Murphy for a try to open the scoring and Keatley converted.
Canada trimmed the deficit to 7-3 at half-time on James Pritchard's penalty from 10 metres out after 38 minutes.
Pritchard booted another penalty from 35 metres three minutes into the second half to pull the hosts within a point, but Keatley answered with penalty kicks from 30 metres in the 57th minute and a left-side angle in the 61st.
Six starters in all earned their first caps for the Irish, who play the United States on May 31 at Santa Clara, California.
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