NEIL ROCK and Ian Anders both scored half centuries as Ireland's U15 cricketers got their European title defence off to a winning start with a 95 run win over Jersey at Rugby College.

It wasn't plain sailing for the defending champions as a five wicket haul by the Channel Islanders paceman Julius Sumerauer had left them reeling at 15 for 4 and 47 for 6 - the Irish scorecard at that stage having a distinctly binary look with five players scoring either 0 or 1.

Rush wicket-keeper Rock together with Phoenix opener Anders completely changed the context of the game with a superb seventh wicket partnership of 135 from 170 balls.

Rock struck four boundaries as he top scored with 67, while Anders hit 55 from 100 balls (5 fours).

Merrion's Max Neville got the Irish total over the 200 mark as he thumped 3 fours and the only six of the innings in an entertaining 26 from 20 balls - Ireland being dismissed for 224 in the 47th over.

Jersey's cause wasn't helped by the concession of a mammoth 62 extras - wides accounting for 41 of those as their attack lost their radar somewhat.

Sumerauer finished with 5 for 42, while Zac Tribe took 2 for 27.

Jersey started their reply in valiant fashion with Chris Thompson top scoring with 40 from 44 deliveries (6 fours, 1 six) to leave his side well in contention at 85 for 2.

His dismissal - bowled by Irish skipper Harry Tector - sparked a dramatic collapse as the last eight wickets tumbled for just 44 runs to leave Ireland winners by an emphatic 95 runs.

Tector claimed the excellent figures of 5 for 33, while fellow spinner Varun Chopra ended with 2 for 29 as Jersey were dismissed for 129 in 34.5 overs.

Ireland face The Netherlands in Tuesday's game - The Dutch were also comfortable 90 run winners over Denmark, thanks primarily to Bas De Leede's undefeated 107.

In the other game Scotland were also easy winners despite being dismissed for only 160 against Guernsey. Four wickets apiece from Aliyan Qureshi and Robbie McCallum saw Guernsey skittled for just 58.

ICC European U15 Championship

At Rugby,

IRELAND U15 224 all out (46.2 overs, N Rock 67, I Anders 55, M Neville 26, J Sumerauer 5-42, Z Tribe 2-27)

JERSEY U15 129 all out (34.5 overs, C Thompson 40, H Tector 5-33, V Chopra 2-29)

Ireland won by 95 runs