Report: Ireland 27-21 Scotland

Scotland inside centre Thomson got the afternoons’ match underway and after a few moments it looked as if Ireland would run in for the first score of the afternoon thanks to a break from speedy scrum-half Molly Scuffil-McCabe – but she was tracked down by Scotland winger Lucia Scott with the tackle completed by outside centre Orr. In her first start at blind-side flanker, Rachel McLachlan made it to the breakdown to force a textbook turnover for Scotland.

In the twelfth minute it looked as if Scotland may have been on for the opening score as Thomson took the ball on a hard line over the gain line just short of the tryline however Ireland’s defence stood strong, and they forced the turnover as the Scotland support to the breakdown was just a wee bit too slow.

Moments later Scotland did manage the first score of the game, at the second time of asking, as openside flanker Alex Stewart picked up a loose ball and charged for the tryline. The ball was recycled, found hooker Lana Skeldon who tipped it onto Thomson who secured the ball down on the whitewash, converting her own score. (0-7)

Winger Scott pulled Scotland a head thanks to a set piece move from a lineout within their 22, the ball saw one open phase of play from the lineout, was recycled by scrum-half Caity Mattison who found Scott flying in off her wing to burst through the Irish defence, turn on the after burners, and run in for her second try in a Scotland jersey. Thomson successfully added the extra two points on offer. (0-14)

After a lengthy break in play, owning to an injury to Skeldon, Scotland’s defence was put straight to the test as Ireland held possession. The visitors piled on the pressure to force an Irish mistake in the final pass which would have resulted in a try. The Scottish defence held well until prop Sadhbh McGrath fought her way over the tryline (5-14)

Only five minutes later the hosts saw the Scottish defence unorganised and found the space out wide for full-back Méabh Deely to run in their second of the afternoon with stand-off Dannah O’Brien successful with the conversion. (12-14)

Half time: Ireland 12-14 Scotland

The hosts opened the scoring only five minutes into the second half when they opted to go out to their back line which saw outside centre Nancy McGillivray spot a gap in the Scottish defence to scamper in. (17-14)

Into the final quarter of the game Scotland had possession just into the Irish half. As the ball worked its way out into the back line Orr took it on fooled the Irish winger with a show and go and ran in a superb try of her own turning on her pace to evade the Irish defence. Thomson’s third conversion of the afternoon was successful for the visitors to take the lead once again, 17-21.

Moments later the hosts pulled ahead as replacement prop Niamh O’Dowd crashed over from short range so that Ireland could lead by a single point (22-21).

With only four minutes left in the game the visitors found a gap in the Scottish maul defence which allowed replacement Deirbhile Nic a Bháird to break away and run in for the hosts fifth try of the afternoon (27-21)

Full time: Ireland 27-21 Scotland

Referee: Clara Munarini (Ita)

Scorers
Ireland
Tries: Sadhbh McGrath, Méabh Deely, Nancy McGillivray, Niamh O’Dowd, Deirbhile Nic a Bháird
Conversion: Dannah O’Brien

Scotland
Tries: Lisa Thomson, Lucia Scott, Emma Orr
Conversions: Lisa Thomson (3)

Cards
Scotland
Yellow card: Coreen Grant 52 mins

Ireland: 15. Méabh Deely 14. Béibhinn Parsons 13. Nancy McGillivray 12. Eve Higgins 11. Amee-Leigh Costigan 10. Dannah O’Brien 9. Molly Scuffil-McCabe 1. Siobhán McCarthy 2. Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald 3. Sadhbh McGrath 4. Eimear Corri-Fallon 5. Sam Monaghan – Captain 6. Grace Moore 7. Ivana Kiripati 8. Brittany Hogan

Replacements: 16. Neve Jones 17. Niamh O’Dowd 18. Linda Djougang 19. Fiona Tuite 20. Deirbhile Nic a Bháird 21. Ailish Quinn 22. Emily Lane 23. Enya Breen

Scotland: 15. Chloe Rollie (Toulon Provence Mediterranee), 14. Coreen Grant (Saracens) 13. Emma Orr (Bristol Bears) (Sale Sharks) 12. Lisa Thomson (Trailfinders Women) 11. Lucia Scott (Loughborough Lightning) 10. Hannah Ramsay (Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh) 9. Caity Mattinson (Trailfinders Women) 1. Anne Young (Loughborough Lightning) 2. Lana Skeldon (Bristol Bears) 3. Elliann Clarke (Bristol Bears) 4. Emma Wassell (Trailfinders Women) 5. Rachel Malcolm – Captain (Trailfinders Women) 6. Rachel McLachlan (Montpellier) 7. Alex Stewart (Edinburgh Rugby/Corstorphine Cougars) 8. Evie Gallagher (Bristol Bears)

Replacements: 16. Elis Martin (Loughborough Lightning) (for Skeldon 32 mins) 17. Leah Bartlett (Sale Sharks) (on for Young 40 mins) 18. Molly Poolman (Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonian FC) (on for Clark 54 mins) 19. Adelle Ferrie (Edinburgh Rugby/Corstorphine Cougars) (on for Wassell 63 mins) 20. Eva Donaldson (on for Malcolm 63 mins) 21. Leia Brebner-Holden (Loughborough Lightning) (on for Mattison 51 minutes) 22. Beth Blacklock (Loughborough Lightning) (on Ramsay 56 mins) 23. Evie Wills (Sale Sharks) (on for Brebner-Holden 70 mins)