Titans to the fore as Wales triumph

2:32pm Monday 7th July 2008

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Wales A 32

Ireland A 24

WALES captain Mark Wheeler admitted his side went through the mill yesterday as they stayed on course to retain their Rugby League Home Nations title with victory over Ireland at Porthcawl.

The prop was one of three Newport Titans who were on the scoreboard although the win, their second in the competition this summer, was much closer than the eight-point margin suggested.

Now they take on England A in Hull on July 19 with the chance to retain the crown on the line.

Wheeler said: "That keeps us top of the table after our win in Scotland last month and hopefully now in two weeks we can beat England and secure the title.

"But that was one of the hardest games I've played in and I've been playing rugby league now for five years.

"Ireland have the makings of a good side and all credit to the boys, they stuck in well."

Indeed, the Irish gave Wales such a run for their money that they led 18-14 at half-time and led 24-20 in the final quarter of the Test.

Wales showed plenty of determination from the outset, and it was 44-year-old Wheeler himself who started the ball rolling with a captain's try as he bulldozed through the Irish defence from ten metres to score in the opening minutes.

Titans' full-back Scott Bessant got the second to level the match as Ireland hit back with a couple of tries from wing Andy McGrory and full-back Ross Barbour.

And, after centre Carl Thomas put Wales back in front at 20-18 following the break, the opposition hit back with a Kevin O'Riordan converted touchdown.

It looked a bit ominous for Wales but the situation changed in their favour when wing Matt Harvey intercepted an Irish attack on his own line and sprinted 90 metres to go under the posts.

So, with the pack, including Torfaen Tigers' Chris Williams, and the back division, with Titan Owen Jones prominent at stand-off, defending their slender two-point advantage, Titans second- rower Tyrone Mahoney sneaked over for an opportunist try with seven minutes to go that sealed the victory.