Jamaica 2-48 Ireland: Wolfhounds’ World Cup campaign off to a flier

Ireland kicked off their World Cup in the best way possible with a comfortable 48-2 victory over debutants Jamaica at Headingley.

Ged Corcoran’s side were on the front foot from the start. Towering winger Louis Senior went over from a scrum to open the scoring in the 12th minute.

Captain George King and half-back Brendan O’Hagan then extended Ireland’s lead inside the first quarter.

Ed Chamberlain, who will be a Super League player again in 2023 with newly-promoted Leigh, went over in the 35th minute to put the Wolfhounds in a very healthy position.

Kieran Rush holds the record for scoring the first Jamaica point at a Rugby League World Cup. The Huddersfield youngster added a penalty goal on the stroke of half-time, but they trailed 18-2 at the break.

Ireland on top at half-time

Corcoran’s men started the second half just as they did in the first, with Innes Senior going over.

It was all Ireland in the second half as Toby King and Louis Senior posted further tries before the hour mark.

James McDonnell, who will be a Leeds player next season, scored his first Ireland try in the 68th minute.

James Bentley and Frankie Halton capped Ireland’s stunning performance with tries in the final minutes as they wrapped up a 48-2 win over the Reggae Warriors.

Jamaica: B Jones-Bishop; Agoro, Johnson, Ogden, Young; Woodburn-Hall, Rush; Andrade, Golding, Lawrence, Wallace, Bailey, Brown. Subs: A Jones-Bishop, Ho, Tomlinson, Peltier. 18th man: Simpson.

Tries: Goals: Rush 1

Ireland: Myler; L Senior, Chamberlain, King, I Senior; Keary, Keyes; Byrne, Cook, Jolliffe, Bentley, Halton, King Subs: Rushton, McDonnell, O’Hagan, Hasson. 18th man: Michael.

Tries: L Senior (2), G King, O’Hagan, Chamberlain, I Senior, T King, McDonnell, Bentley, Halton Goals: Chamberlain 1, Keyes 3

Attendance: 6,320

More World Cup content

Scotland 4-28 Italy: Bravehearts stunned in World Cup opener

Tommy Makinson “not getting carried away” after Samoa rout

Samoa must use disappointing opener as motivation, insists Jarome Luai

FOLLOW: Keep up with all the latest on the Love Rugby League mobile app and podcast