Hughes masterclass leads NZ over Ireland

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New Zealand Men v Ireland Men

New Zealand topped Group C with a 48-10 win against a gallant Ireland side in their final pool game at Headingley. 

Back in the side and in form, Jahrome Hughes was the undisputed star of the game, scoring twice and setting up a handful of tries in a thrashing by New Zealand who qualify as the top side in Group C. 

It was a willing start from both sides, and Ireland were the first team to hit the scoreboard. After a strip in the tackle, Ed Chamberlain piloted through a penalty goal to make it 2-0. 

New Zealand were a bit sloppy with the ball but once they found their rhythm, they took the lead. Jahrome Hughes sliced through the Ireland defence and touched down close to the sticks for 6-2. 

The Storm halfback showed all the skills in the first half with a pair of assists from the boot. The first was some lovely vision to spy Jordan Rapana all alone on the wing to stretch their advantage to ten. 

He went high for the first one then it was a low kick from Hughes for New Zealand's third. He stabbed through a kick for Cowboys back Peta Hiku to chase down and build a healthy lead for the Kiwis headed towards the half hour mark. 

Ireland showed in several raids on the right that they weren't going to wilt easily. Their first four-pointer came through a Louis Senior intercept on the right edge to make it 16-6 and bring the crowd back into the contest. 

There was a whiff of deja vu for New Zealand in their fourth try. Hughes and Hiku combined again, this time through the hands for the latter to make it a double and make it 20-6 and New Zealand on course to top the group. 

The Wolfhounds were handed a lifeline in the first half when Jared Wearea-Hargreaves was sin binned for a swinging arm on an Irish player. New Zealand showed their class from a broken play for Ronaldo Mulitalo to make it an 18 point lead at the break. 

Once again, errors and discipline cost Ireland. They gave away a penalty close to their own line and New Zealand pounced. It was a quick backline move and Rapana picked up his second while somehow not hitting the sideline. 

James Fisher-Harris was the next Kiwi to get on the board. From a penalty tap, it was an inside ball and the Panthers forward had the easiest passage to the tryline and confirm an undefeated round robin for New Zealand. 

Hughes capped off his man of the match display and became the third New Zealand player to score a double. It was another slicing solo effort as he crashed over against the padding then was given an early mark by coach Mark McGuire. 

It was party time for New Zealand. Kieran Foran in his first meaningful contribution since coming on, piloted a kick right on the spot and it was fumbled by the Ireland defence for Kenny Bromwich to profit. 

Just adding to the doubles party, Ireland back Louis Senior got his second. Joe Keyes kicked early in the count which saw Senior chase until the end and profit from an error from Mulitalo to make it 42-10. 

Joseph Manu put the icing on the win for New Zealand and got himself on the scoresheet. He pushed through some tired Ireland defence and strolled towards the line and made it 48-10 for the top ranked side.