The Ireland Club team, sponsored by Ulster Bank, produced a battling display but England Counties proved too strong as they earned a 34-26 victory at Temple Hill last night.
This was the first meeting of Ireland's Ulster Bank League stars and England Counties since the Irish scored a dramatic 23-22 victory in Darlington three years ago thanks to a late David Joyce penalty.
This time around at the home of Cork Constitution FC, England, who showed the benefit of a recent outing against Scotland Clubs, ran in four tries with Morgan Lennon's Ireland Club XV, led by Cork native Scott Deasy, touching down three times in a lively encounter.
Clontarf flanker Karl Moran was one of Ireland's top performers on night, with replacements Rob Guerin (Young Munster) and Paddy Finlay (Dublin University), who scored a second half try, also catching the eye in a committed squad display.
There were 10 points between the sides at the interval, English half-backs Joe Tarrant and Peter White (the man-of-the-match) both touching down during a bright opening spell. Lansdowne out-half Deasy sandwiched in a 21st minute penalty.
Ireland lifted their game and deservedly got over for a try nine minutes before half-time, an excellent unconverted effort from former skipper Matt D'Arcy, and their resurgent form gained a subsequent penalty which Deasy stuck over. However, they leaked a third try to centre Markus Burcham two minutes into injury-time and Tarrant's conversion widen the gap to 21-11.
Tarrant and Deasy swapped penalties and Ireland responded to a Leo Fielding seven-pointer when busy replacement Paul Pritchard, a member of last year's victorious Irish team in France, went over for a 63rd minute score that Deasy converted. It was back to a 10-point deficit and still all to play for.
Trinity hooker Finlay also had the desired impact off the bench with a well-taken try four minutes later. Deasy's conversion attempt came back off the post but Ireland were back within range at 31-26 down.
Crucially, the men in green could not add to their momentum and the English scrum wrestled back control for the visitors. Replacement James Williams' 78th-minute penalty sealed the result for the Counties outfit whose players are drawn from National League One and below.
Referee: Keith Allen (Scotland)