David Barnhill feels the weight of the Maori

Ireland struck the first blow after 20 minutes through Steve Prescott's goal kick, but the turning point of a tight first half came when Mark Foster charged down a Maori kick inside his own half and raced clear to score.

Brian Carney, who had earlier seen a try ruled out courtesy of the video referee, had better fortune towards the interval when he went over in the corner and this time the replay decision went his way.

The resulting conversion gave the Irish a 12-0 lead going into half-time and it was clear at that stage the stoic Maori resistance had largely been broken.

David Barnhill was first to score after the restart, though he was lucky to escape a call for knock-on before he gathered the ball to run home.

Inconclusive

Again, television replays were called for, but inconclusive evidence resulted in Barnhill being given the benefit of the doubt.

Maori David Kidwell finds himself surrounded

Boycie Nelson got Maori on the board before Michael Withers showed a similar turn of speed at the other end to restore a healthy 22-4 lead.

Maori scrum-half Hare Te Rangi produced a delightful jinking run to touch down under the posts but the result was never in doubt.

Wairangi Koopu brought some more respectability to the scoreline with the third Maori try, but Ryan Sheridan had the last word with a deeply satisfying score.

Moments earlier he had been knocked out cold by Maori skipper Tawera Nikau as his frustration manifested in a horrifying forearm smash.

Sheridan got his revenge in the best possible way and his closing try was converted to complete a comprehensive Irish victory.

Scotland now need to beat Samoa by two points in their final Group Four match on Sunday to clinch a quarter-final with reigning champions Australia.

Teams:

Ireland: Prescott, Carney, Withers, Ricketson, Forster, Clinch, Sheridan, O'Connor, Williams, McDermott, Joynt, Barnhill, Campion. Replacements: Bretherton, Lawless, Tallon, Southern.

New Zealand Maoris: Toopi, Manuell, Kohe-Love, Kidwell, Hoppe, Ngamu, H. Te Rangi, Rauhihi, Perenara, Hermansson, Koopu, T. Smith, Nikau. Replacements: Moana, Nelson, Nahi, Reihana.

Referee: Bill Harrigan (Australia)

Line-up for the last eight following Saturday's results:

Saturday, November 11
Vicarage Road, Watford: Australia v Scotland or Samoa (1600)
Headingley, Leeds: England v Ireland (1830).

Sunday, November 12
Auto Quest Stadium, Widnes: Wales v France, Tonga or Papua New Guinea (1700)
Wheldon Road, Castleford: New Zealand v France, Tonga or Papua New Guinea (1845)