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Dragons triumph in Dublin

Neil Jenkins was the Welsh hero scoring a try, three penalties and three conversions to seal the game for the visitors.

The fly half, scored a match-clinching try two minutes from the end when only two points separated two well-matched teams.

Andy Ward's first international try in the 10th minute and another by Victor Costello gave Ireland a 12-3 lead in the early stages and the Irish also led 18-13 two minutes into the second half.

But tries by Allan Bateman and Kevin Morgan brought Wales back into the game and Jenkins' accurate kicking kept them ahead once he had given them the lead.

It was the second Welsh victory in a row after a 19-13 win over Scotland two weeks ago while Ireland lost for the third time despite three strong performances. The Irish lost to Scotland by one point and France by two.

Ward's try came after only nine minutes. Ireland won the ball from a lineout, formed a ruck and Conor McGuinness, pretending to switch the ball to the right, deftly played a pass behind him to the flanker Ward who dived over unchallenged in the corner.

A 35-yard penalty by Jenkins cut the lead in the 19th minute but then came a second Irish try by Number 8 Costello.

He broke away from a scrum only 12 yards from the Welsh line and charged through a tackle by Jenkins. Elwood converted and Ireland led 12-3 after 25 minutes.

Straight from the restart, Ireland failed to deal with a high kick ahead from Jenkins, and Batemen collected the loose ball to cross the Irish line unchallenged.

Jenkins kicked Wales ahead in the 32nd minute with a straight 40-yard penalty after the Irish were penalised for foul play in a maul and referee Ed Morrison moved the kick 10 yards closer to the posts for some Irish dissent.

The game carried on at a frantic pace and Irish forwards got within inches of the Welsh line in the 67th minute only to be kept out by desperate tackling.

Needing a try to draw level, the Irish were awarded a close-range penalty and Elwood cut the lead to two points with an easy kick.

Bateman almost claimed a try with three minutes to go when he chased a kick forward by Jenkins. The ball crossed the line but the centre was unable to ground the ball properly under a challenge from Richard Wallace.

But Jenkins scored the cliching try a minute later when Stuart Davies intercepted the ball and broke through the middle. He slipped a pass outside to the fly half who darted through to cross the line.

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