Let's have more of these cup thrillers!

Ireland 16

The game's authorities most surely find room for a high profile Home Nations Championship in next season's calendar after this thrilling Headingley spectacle.

The World Cup build-up was blighted with high profile players crying off through injury and accusations that some of those selected for Ireland couldn't even find their way there.

But try telling that to any of the 15,000-plus crowd and the 34-players who slugged it out toe-toe-toe that the outcome wasn't important.

Bulls forward Stuart Fielden and Leeds' Barrie McDermott typified the mood with a fiery duel which matched, if not bettered, anything they served up in several WestYorkshire derbies last season.

McDermott should have taken the long walk five minutes into the second period with a horrific high tackle on the Odsal front-rower. Instead Aussie referee Tim Mander put the incident on report and the two stood eyeball-to-eyeball minutes later as the open warfare continued.

"It seems to be that way with me and him at the moment," said man of the match Fielden. "I think it will be more or less the same every time I play against him. It's just part of the game isn't it."

It was certainly compelling stuff and there were similar tussles right across the field, especially in the pack where Warrington's Aussie newcomer Kevin Campion and Sydney Roosters' Luke Ricketson really gave it to Farrell, Anderson, Morley and Co.

The Irish togetherness was there for all to see and some steadier finishing might well have made it even closer.

They could certainly consider themselves a little unfortunate to be 12-10 down at the break after showing great tenacity to battle back from Keith Senior's early try which followed neat approach work from Darren Rogers and a pin-point kick from Bulls starlet Paul Deacon, who gave another very accomplished show.

A neat reverse pass by Ricketson quickly put Tommy Martyn over, though, and the Saints half-back almost had a second moments later but he could not pick up on the run after hacking ahead.

A great Fielden break should have put England back in front but he made his only mistake of the night in delaying his pass to Morley with two men better placed on his inside.

Two Bulls colleagues showed him the way to the line with first Michael Withers finishing superbly from near half-way after more good work by Ricketson and then Jamie Peacock coming off the bench to grab his sixth try of the tournament and help edge England ahead two minutes from half-time.

It was just what the doctor ordered for John Kear's men at that stage and underlined Peacock's standing as one of the best wide runners anywhere in the world right now.

The introduction of Tony Smith at hooker in place of Paul Rowley allowed Sean Long to forget distribution, which he's not that clever at, and concentrate on running at which he has few equals.

The Man of Steel did just that in dazzling style close to the hour to find the supporting Farrell and Smith rounded off a superb move with a typical supporting dart.

Ryan Sheridan was held inches short at the other end as the Irish just refused to accept the season was over and the tireless Fielden got back to deny Campion with a thrilling chase and cover tackle.

But the big England pack were simply not to be denied and a sweeping raid, inspired by another fine Deacon pass, set up Chev Walker for a simple finish on the right flank. The Leeds' teenager makes most things look incredibly easy, however, and he must surely have booked his place in the starting line-up.

Doubts over the rest of the backline remain, though, and more improvement is needed in that area if the side are to go any further than the Reebok and New Zealand next Saturday.

But there was still so much to admire on both sides and Bulls coach Brian Noble, acting as a television summariser, had plenty to cheer him during the long winter nights.

Fielden, Anderson, Forshaw, Peacock and Deacon all made big contributions for England while Withers, who added a fine second late on for the Irish, looked to be heading back to his best after a season dogged by injury.

More of the same please seemed to be the message from the fans in attendance and that would surely give us a better chance of producing Great Britain players capable of claiming the Ashes back at last.

England: Wellens; Walker, Radlinski, Senior, Rogers; Long, Deacon; Fielden, Rowley, Anderson, Morley, Forshaw, Farrell. Subs: Smith, Naylor, Peacock, Howard.

Ireland: Prescott; Carney, Withers, Eagar, Forster; Martyn, Sheridan; O'Connor, Williams, McDermott, Joynt, Campion, Ricketson. Subs: Clinch, Barnhill, Mathiou, Southern.

Referee: Tim Mander (Australia)

Attendance: 15,405.