THREE TRIES FROM Sophie Spence proved to be the highlight in Ashbourne this evening, as Ireland got their RBS Women’s Six Nations campaign off to a flying start with a stunning 59-point success against an overwhelmed Scotland outfit.
Playing competitively for the first time since their 6-3 victory over Italy last March sealed an historic Grand Slam triumph, the hosts began with ferocious intensity, and they had built up a ten-point cushion inside the opening ten minutes thanks to well-worked tries by Spence and left-wing Alison Miller.
With Nora Stapleton also providing a conversion to Miller’s score, Ireland were well in control of the contest during the early exchanges, and relentless pressure inside the Scotland ‘22’ led to a further five-pointer from powerful No 8 Heather O’Brien on the 20-minute mark.
The stand-out moment of the evening then arrived just three minutes later when Miller gathered possession on the half-way mark before crossing over unopposed on the left-flank, and with industrious Richmond centre Cantwell and Spence adding to their side’s tally with tries in the 30th and 34th minutes respectively, Ireland had developed an insurmountable 32-0 interval cushion.
It was a case of damage limitation for Scotland upon the resumption, but they powerless in their efforts to prevent Spence grabbing a well-deserved hat-trick six minutes after the restart.
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With the Scotland challenge effectively deflated at this point, there was ample opportunity for Ireland to move even further into the ascendancy, and front-row pair Ailish Egan and Stacey-Lea Kennedy increased Ireland’s lead to an astonishing 49 points with 25 minutes still to play by finishing off enterprising moves into the opposition half.
To their credit, Scotland did battle admirably as they attemoted secure some form of consolation score inside the final-quarter, but the determined Green Army registered their 10th try on 64 minutes thanks to a second from Cantwell, and with flanker Claire Molloy also grounding in stoppage time, Ireland brought the curtain down on a most memorable outing.
Ireland Women Scorers:
Tries: S Spence 3, A Miller 2, L Cantwell 2, C Molloy 1, A Egan 1, H O’Brien 1, S-Lea Kennedy 1.
Scotland Women: Stephanie Johnston (Worcester); Katy Green (Darlington Mowden Park), Annabel Sergeant (Richmond), Gillian Inglis (Melrose), Megan Gaffney (Hillhead-Jordanhill); Lisa Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers), Sarah Law (Murrayfield Wanderers); Tracy Balmer (Worcester) (capt), Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lindsay Smith (Hillhead-Jordanhill), Jade Konkel (Hillhead-Jordanhill), Deborah McCormack (Richmond), Tess Forsberg (Richmond), Ruth Slaven (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lindsay Wheeler (Saracens).
Replacements: Nikki McLeod (Stirling County), Lisa Robertson (Murrayfield Wanderers), Heather Lockhart (Hillhead-Jordanhill), Emma Wassel (Murrayfield Wanderers), Anna Stodter (Loughborough University), Louise Dalgliesh (RHC Cougars), Tanya Griffiths (RHC Cougars), Laura Steven (Murrayfield Wanderers).
11-try Ireland hit the ground running in Six Nations defence
Ireland Women 59
Scotland Women 0
THREE TRIES FROM Sophie Spence proved to be the highlight in Ashbourne this evening, as Ireland got their RBS Women’s Six Nations campaign off to a flying start with a stunning 59-point success against an overwhelmed Scotland outfit.
Playing competitively for the first time since their 6-3 victory over Italy last March sealed an historic Grand Slam triumph, the hosts began with ferocious intensity, and they had built up a ten-point cushion inside the opening ten minutes thanks to well-worked tries by Spence and left-wing Alison Miller.
With Nora Stapleton also providing a conversion to Miller’s score, Ireland were well in control of the contest during the early exchanges, and relentless pressure inside the Scotland ‘22’ led to a further five-pointer from powerful No 8 Heather O’Brien on the 20-minute mark.
The stand-out moment of the evening then arrived just three minutes later when Miller gathered possession on the half-way mark before crossing over unopposed on the left-flank, and with industrious Richmond centre Cantwell and Spence adding to their side’s tally with tries in the 30th and 34th minutes respectively, Ireland had developed an insurmountable 32-0 interval cushion.
It was a case of damage limitation for Scotland upon the resumption, but they powerless in their efforts to prevent Spence grabbing a well-deserved hat-trick six minutes after the restart.
With the Scotland challenge effectively deflated at this point, there was ample opportunity for Ireland to move even further into the ascendancy, and front-row pair Ailish Egan and Stacey-Lea Kennedy increased Ireland’s lead to an astonishing 49 points with 25 minutes still to play by finishing off enterprising moves into the opposition half.
Stacey Lea Kennedy scores her try. ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
To their credit, Scotland did battle admirably as they attemoted secure some form of consolation score inside the final-quarter, but the determined Green Army registered their 10th try on 64 minutes thanks to a second from Cantwell, and with flanker Claire Molloy also grounding in stoppage time, Ireland brought the curtain down on a most memorable outing.
Ireland Women Scorers:
Ireland Women: Jackie Shiels (Richmond/Exile); Hannah Casey (Saracens/Exile), Lynne Cantwell (Richmond/Exile), Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Alison Miller (Portlaoise/UCC/Connacht); Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Amy Davis (Blackrock/Ulster); Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) (capt), Stacey-Lea Kennedy (Cooke/Ulster), Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Siobhan Fleming (Tralee/Munster), Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht), Heather O’Brien (Highfield/Munster).
Replacements: Gill Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster), Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster), Kerrie-Ann Craddock (Saracens/Exile), Orla Fitzsimmons (St. Mary’s/Leinster), Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s/Leinster), Larissa Muldoon (Bristol/Exile), Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster), Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster).
Lynne Cantwell celebrates her try with Jenny Murphy. ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Scotland Women: Stephanie Johnston (Worcester); Katy Green (Darlington Mowden Park), Annabel Sergeant (Richmond), Gillian Inglis (Melrose), Megan Gaffney (Hillhead-Jordanhill); Lisa Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers), Sarah Law (Murrayfield Wanderers); Tracy Balmer (Worcester) (capt), Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lindsay Smith (Hillhead-Jordanhill), Jade Konkel (Hillhead-Jordanhill), Deborah McCormack (Richmond), Tess Forsberg (Richmond), Ruth Slaven (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lindsay Wheeler (Saracens).
Replacements: Nikki McLeod (Stirling County), Lisa Robertson (Murrayfield Wanderers), Heather Lockhart (Hillhead-Jordanhill), Emma Wassel (Murrayfield Wanderers), Anna Stodter (Loughborough University), Louise Dalgliesh (RHC Cougars), Tanya Griffiths (RHC Cougars), Laura Steven (Murrayfield Wanderers).
Referee: Claire Hodnett (England).
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6 Nations Ashbourne Champions Six Nations Hammering Ireland Women Rout Scotland Women's Rugby