Match Report: Ireland U20 37 – 7 Scotland Women U20

Scotland's Aila Ronald during the Six Nations Women's Summer Series between Ireland and Scotland at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma, Italy, Sunday, July 14th, 2024 (Photo by Ben Brady / Inpho)

Ireland were first on the board, scoring through Sophie Barrett. Kate Flannery converted. [7-0, 7 mins]

Scotland continued to press in attack with Ceitidh Ainsworth, Aila Ronald and Holland Bogan all impressing with line breaks and powerful carries, but the Scots were unlucky not to convert their possession and territory into points with unfortunate errors.

Those errors lead to allowing Ireland back into their half as play entered the 20-minute mark, forcing Scotland to defend for their lives, and defend they did. Ireland’s Clara Barrett thought she has scored on the wing but a forward pass ruled it out. Ireland did however have advantage, and so the women in green opted for a quick tap from five metres out. Scotland’s impressive form in defence saw another attempt for the try held up.

Play was paused for a short whilst Ainsworth received medical attention, and was sadly stretchered off the park, brining Hannah Ramsay on for the remainder of the game.

Play was restarted with and Irish penalty in front of the posts, and so Flannery lined up to take the points to extend the lead [10-0, 19 mins].

Scotland’s next opportunity to earn some points of their own came when Ireland dummied the throw in their lineout inside their 22, allowing Scotland to take a tap and go, with the forwards carrying well in the initial phases. Spotting the mismatch in midfield Ramsay was able to split through the wall of green, offloading into contact to co-captain Poppy Fletcher, who came within metres of the try line. Scotland’s try-scorer against France, Gemma Bell, looked to go for the try, leaping over the top but the referee deemed she has been held up.

Relentless defence from Ireland who continued to press. Ireland penalty advantage for an offside position. Lineout on the 5. Overthrown, Scotland clear but can’t find touch and Ireland attack again. Scotland offside again, Ireland go for posts. Easy shot Flannery [13-0, 30 mins].

Shortly after the restart, Scotland were penalised for not releasing, as Ireland encroached on Scotland’s try line, however Lauryn Walter was able to hold up the score.

The final 10-minutes of the half continued to be scrappy, but Scotland were determined to get on the board.

Ahead of the full-time whistle, Scotland were gifted an opportunity when Ireland failed to clear their lines, allowing Walker gather both ball and momentum, crashing back into the 22 before offloading to Bel, who herself went crashing over the gain line. Relentless work followed as Scotland looked to convert their efforts into points but Eilidh Fleming was held up.

Scotland however had the penalty advantage and so Bogan quickly reacted to tap and release to her fellow forwards, but Brebner-Holden released to the back line to find Lucia Scott, who pierced through the wall of green to get Scotland’s first try. With her ever impressive boot, Lucy MacRae was brought to the fore for a conversion wide on the right of the pitch, and slotted it with ease to take the score into a one score game before half-time.

Half-time: Ireland U20 13 – 7 Scotland Women U20

The opening exchanges of the second-half were scrappy, and an intercepted ball by Ireland allowed them put the foot on the gas to get as close as possible to the whitewash. Scotland’s defence however, said something else with Bell and Walter working well together to hold up the try, denying Ireland the try.

A series of errors which stemmed from a knock-on at Scotland’s line out on their five-metre line, gave Ireland some momentum which would eventually lead to another score. With Scotland penalised for the offside position, Ireland kicked to the corner for a line out on the five. Despite the best efforts of Scotland’s forward pack, the Irish maul proved to be too much, and Beth Buttimer dotted down for the try. The conversion was missed [18-7, 51 mins].

Scotland continued to do everything they could to get over the gainline, but small margins of errors proved costly. After earning a penalty at the scrum on the half-way line, Ireland began to work their way into Scotland’s soil, carrying hard and once again testing Scotland’s defence. After sustained pressure, Buttimer went over for her second try of the match. The conversion was successful again [25-7, 59 mins]

The momentum had swung in Ireland’s favour, and Scotland’s discipline continued to waver. In similar fashion to their first try of the second half, Ireland once again kicked to the corner for line-out, maul. Buttimer added the hat-trick some three minutes later, darting over from short-range. The conversion was unsuccessful [30-7, 63 mins].

A proud moment for all followed shortly as Lucy Christie and Poppy Clarkson made their Scotland Women U20 debuts, replacing Natasha Logan and Chloe Brown in the final 15 minutes of play.

As the clock started to wind down to the concluding 10, Scotland continued to be forced into defence mode, and yet again, they held up another Ireland try.

With Ireland continuing to pin Scotland on their try line, debutant Christie received a yellow card after being deemed to be kill the ball, ending her time on the park and leaving Scotland a woman down for the remainder of the game.

Capitalising on their man advantage, Ireland’s Hannah Wilson powered over from short range. The conversion was successful [37-7, 73 mins].

Scotland continued to put up a fight with absolute warrior like spirit, with Scott throwing all her power behind her to drag Ireland into touch on Scotland’s 15-metre line for a line out in what would come to be the final play of the game. As Scotland looked to press and make a final dent into Ireland, the ball was lost the offload and Ireland kicked the ball into touch for the win.

Full-time: Ireland U20 37 – 7 Scotland Women U20

Scotland Women U20: Izzy McGuire-Evans, Sky Phimister, Lucia Scott, Lucy MacRae, Hannah Walker (co-captain); Ceitidh Ainsworth, Leia Brebner-Holden; Poppy Fletcher (co-captian), Aila Ronald, Eilidh Fleming, Holland Bogan, Natasha Logan, Merryn Gunderson, Gemma Bell, Megan Hyland.

Replacements: Karis Craig (on for Aila Ronald, 59 mins), Chloe Brown (on for Poppy Fletcher, 44 mins), Poppy Clarkson (on for Chloe Brown, 65 mins), Lucy Christie (on for Natasha Logan, 64 mins), Samanther Tagnanekurukuru (on for Megan Hyland, 29 mins), Lauryn Walter (on for Merryn Gunderson, 29 mins), Rhea Clarke (on for Leia Brebner-Holden, 55 mins), Hannah Ramsay (on for Ceitidh Ainsworth, 18 mins).

Ireland U20: Robyn O’Connor, Hannah Clarke, Ellen Boylan, Éabha Nic Dhonnacha; Clara Barrett, Kate Flannery; May Goulding, Grainne Burke, Beth Buttimer, Sophie Barrett, Ruth Campbell, Aoibheann Hahessy, Faith Oviawe, Brianna Heylmann, Jane Neill

Replacements: Kelly Burke, Hannah Wilson, Lily Morris, Cliodhna Ni Chonchobhair, Eadaoin Murtagh, Jade Gaffney, Ellie O’Sullivan-Sexton, Chisom Ugwueru

Referee: Beatrice Smussi (FIR)
Player of the Match: Beth Buttimer (Ireland)