Rugby Union: The accuracy of Elwood's boot gives Ireland kick-start

Western Australia. .8

Ireland . . . . . .64

ERIC ELWOOD issued a warning to Australia with a superb kicking performance in Ireland's demolition of Western Australia in their opening tour match yesterday.

The tourists, who ran in nine tries to one at the WACA Ground, will be delighted with Elwood's form with the boot in the build-up to the first Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane, on 5 June.

The outside-half landed eight conversions, including two from a metre inside the touchline, and a penalty as the Irish ran in nine tries to one at the WACA Ground.

Maurice Field, Terence Kingston and David Corkery each scored two tries, while Conor O'Shea, Paddy Jones and Jeremy Davidson scored one apiece. Western Australia, the weakest opposition the Irish will face in Australia, scored a last-minute consolation try by John O'Callaghan.

Ireland's victory, however, came at a price. Keith Wood, the hooker, and Martin Ridge, the centre, needed stitches in gashes over their eyes and Victor Costello, the No 8, injured his left shoulder.

The team now heads for New South Wales and a more searching challenge in Sydney on Sunday.

The career of Tim Horan, the Australian centre, is under threat after he suffered cartilage damage and torn cruciate and medial ligaments in his knee. Surgeons have been 'guarded' about his long- term prospects, and will operate again next week on the kneecap that he dislocated playing for Queensland against Natal in the Super 10 final at the weekend. Horan's centre partner, Jason Little, will be out for two months with knee ligament injuries from the same game.

Western Australia: Try O'Callaghan; Penalty Fearn. Ireland: Tries Field 2, Kingston 2, Corkery 2, O'Shea, Jones, Davidson; Conversions Elwood 8; Penalty Elwood.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA: R Smith; G Hamilton, D Hamilton, S Bunce, D Dunbar; T Fearn, M Ryburn (G Johnston); J Tepania, P Roberts (capt), G Thompson, T Thomas, S Vitali, R Walters, J O'Callaghan, D Gleghorn.

IRELAND: C O'Shea (Lansdowne); J Staples (London Irish), S Geoghehan (London Irish), M Field (Malone), M Ridge (Blackrock Coll); E Elwood (Lansdowne), M Bradley (Cork Constitution, capt); J Fitzgerald (Young Munster), K Wood (Garryowen), P Clohessy (Young Munster), M Galwey (Shannon), J Davidson, P Johns (both Dungannon), D Corkery (Cork Constitution), V Costello (St Mary's Coll). Replacements: T Kingston (Dolphin) for Wood; B Robinson (Ballymena) for Costello.

Referee: A Cole (Australia).