Ireland A 22-50 NZ Maori :

NZ Maori: (24) 50
Tries: Gear (2), Paku, Ellison, May (2), Bruce
Cons: Ellison (5), Sweeney
Pen: Ellison

Ireland A: (12) 22
Tries: Cave (2), Earls, Gannon
Con: Sexton

Ireland A's hopes of making the Churchill Cup final were ended as the New Zealand Maori ran in seven tries in a one-sided contest at Sandy Park.

The Irish led early on with tries from Darren Cave and Keith Earls split by a Maori score from Hosea Gear.

However, tries from Shannon Paku and Tamati Ellison helped the Maori take a 24-12 lead at the interval.

Gear, Ben May (two) and Callum Bruce added further Maori tries while Cave and David Gannon replied for the Irish.

The Maori, who will now face England in Saturday's final at Twickenham, were lethal in open space and cut the Irish to ribbons with some dazzling rugby.

Ireland A made a great start when Cave crossed with just two minutes on the clock after a fine pass from Johnny Sexton.

Fly-half Sexton slotted the conversion, only for the Maori to respond swiftly with an Ellison penalty.

Superb vision from Paku then saw the Maori creep into the lead with the full-back chipping through Ireland's backline and Gear was on hand to touch down.

Ireland hit back when Keith Earls slipped through several tackles and strolled over, with the sin-binning of May for an off-the-ball tackle further aiding their cause.

But they could not take advantage as Paku drove over from close range after slick footwork from Rua Tipoki.

Ireland A scrum-half Frank Murphy followed May into the sin-bin for straying offside and Ellison then darted around several tackles to further stretch the Maori's lead.

Gear added his second with a sublime finish and May then added two more tries for the Maori.

The Irish produced a late rally with Cave's second try followed by a score from substitute David Gannon.

But there was still time for Callum Bruce to ensure the Maori had the final word with a simple score.


NZ Maori:
Paku, Gear, Sweeney, Tipoki, Tahana, Ellison, Smylie, West, de Malmanche, May, Ormsby, Triggs, MacDonald, Latimer, Smith.
Replacements: Bruce for Tipoki (65), Te Whare for Tahana (60), Rodley for Smylie (68), Tui for West (61), Mahoney for de Malmanche (61), Ross for Ormsby (68), Hoeata for Latimer (60).

Sin Bin: May (21), Rodley (70).


Ireland A:
McCarron, McKenzie, Cave, Earls, J Murphy, Sexton, F Murphy, Hogan, Fogarty, Ross, Caldwell, Farley, O'Sullivan, O'Connor, Wilson, Fitzpatrick.
Replacements: Hearty for McCarron (50), Mallon for Earls (53), Keane for F. Murphy (74), Fitzpatrick for Hogan (14), Cronin for Fogarty (51), Gannon for Ross (64), Keogh for Fitzpatrick (50).

Sin Bin: F Murphy (36).