IRELAND WOMEN’S TEAM have clinched their first ever Triple Crown trophy with an outstanding 30-3 win over Scotland in Edinburgh.
The emphatic win for Phillip Doyle’s side, confirmed after brilliant performances from Niamh Briggs and Alison Miller, is their third in a row.
They will be targeting a home win over France in two weeks’ time and a potential Grand Slam if they can also overcome Italy on the final weekend.
The home side hit the front after the opening skirmishes when inside centre Lisa Ritchie slotted over a penalty.
Good work in attack from Niamh Briggs and Ashleigh Baxter got Ireland into a promising position. A penalty was conceded and Briggs levelled the scores.
Advertisement
Alison Miller, scorer of a wonderful hat-trick against England earlier in the month, scored her fourth try of the campaign as she dived over in the corner to make it 8-3 at half-time.
An early penalty miss from Ritchie kept the Irish advantage at five points and a further boost would be forthcoming.
Scotland outhalf Tanya Griffith was sin-binned for deliberately, and illegally, slowing down an Irish attack and Briggs made it 11-3.
Miller then scored her second try of the game as she finished off a fine team move by dashing under the posts.
Briggs, who set up the try with an excellent break, added the extras to make it 18-3.
The win was confirmed when Niamh Kavanagh sprinted clear of the Scottish defence. Her breakaway yielded a score under the posts by Siobhan Fleming. Briggs made it 25-3 with a conversion.
Briggs rounded off a fantastic personal game with a try of her own under the posts to make it 30-3.
The victory has also assured Ireland of qualification for the 2014 World Cup.
Ireland Women's side capture first ever Triple Crown after Scottish win
IRELAND WOMEN’S TEAM have clinched their first ever Triple Crown trophy with an outstanding 30-3 win over Scotland in Edinburgh.
The emphatic win for Phillip Doyle’s side, confirmed after brilliant performances from Niamh Briggs and Alison Miller, is their third in a row.
They will be targeting a home win over France in two weeks’ time and a potential Grand Slam if they can also overcome Italy on the final weekend.
The home side hit the front after the opening skirmishes when inside centre Lisa Ritchie slotted over a penalty.
Good work in attack from Niamh Briggs and Ashleigh Baxter got Ireland into a promising position. A penalty was conceded and Briggs levelled the scores.
Alison Miller, scorer of a wonderful hat-trick against England earlier in the month, scored her fourth try of the campaign as she dived over in the corner to make it 8-3 at half-time.
An early penalty miss from Ritchie kept the Irish advantage at five points and a further boost would be forthcoming.
Scotland outhalf Tanya Griffith was sin-binned for deliberately, and illegally, slowing down an Irish attack and Briggs made it 11-3.
The Irish Women’s team line up before their win. (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)
Miller time
Miller then scored her second try of the game as she finished off a fine team move by dashing under the posts.
Briggs, who set up the try with an excellent break, added the extras to make it 18-3.
The win was confirmed when Niamh Kavanagh sprinted clear of the Scottish defence. Her breakaway yielded a score under the posts by Siobhan Fleming. Briggs made it 25-3 with a conversion.
Briggs rounded off a fantastic personal game with a try of her own under the posts to make it 30-3.
The victory has also assured Ireland of qualification for the 2014 World Cup.
More to follow.
Snapshot: Ireland’s women ready for battle ahead of Triple Crown decider in Scotland
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
6 Nations alison miller Fiona Coghlan history girls Ireland Irish Rugby niamh briggs Rugby Scotland Triple Crown Women's Rugby