Scotland Women 7 – 62 Ireland | Six Nations Summer Series 2025 Match Report

Rebekah Douglas of Scotland during the 2025 Six Nations Women’s Summer Series game between Scotland and Ireland in the Centre of Sporting Excellence, Caerphilly, Wales, Thursday, July 17th, 2025 (Photo by Geraint Nicholas / Inpho)

After putting Scotland under pressure from the kick-off, Ireland had the young Scots pinned on the try line and turned the ball over. From there, they used the platform of the scrum to set up Beibhinn Gleeson for their first try of the match. The conversion from Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton added the extras (0-7, 4 mins).

Scotland did well at the restart to take play deep at the restart, and came close to responding with their own try but the ball was list in the offload between Poppy Mellanby and Emily Norval.

Ireland added a second try through Alma Atagamen, who took a front ball from a line out, catching Scotland off guard. O’Sullivan Sexton added the extras from the tee (0-14, 15 mins).

After sustained pressure, Scotland began to capitalise on Ireland’s errors and with a little bit of patience, were able to get into Ireland’s 22. Nicole Flynn was a key contributor to getting Scotland over the gainline, sitting defenders down on her way to the try line, before falling short. With Ireland caught offside, Scotland’s forwards took the penalty quickly, driving forward before activating the backline to find Freya MacColl, who dotted down. Lucy MacRae’s conversion sailed through the sticks (7-14, 21 mins).

Ireland responded well with a third try from winger Emily Foley, as Scotland’s defence was scattered inside their 22. O’Sullivan Sexton missed the conversion (7-19, 26 mins).

Scotland earned themselves two further opportunities to attack inside Ireland’s 22, both through the lineout. The first, MacRae was caught offside as he made her break. The second was taken well, but the final pass to Norval went into touch.

Ireland continued to test Scotland’s defence, but the young Scots held firm with Merryn Gunderson, Flynn and MacRae all making life difficult for the girls in green. Lily Crisp was next to cause a nuisance, turning Ireland over inside their own half. Ceitidh Ainsworth kicked the penalty for a lineout outside Ireland’s 22. After keeping possession, Flynn saw space and put in a cross-field kick but it had a bit too much power behind it, and went dead. Ireland tried to play out of their half but their kick found the touch line to close the first half.

Half-time: Scotland Women U20 7 – 19 Ireland

Ireland scored first in the second half. Unfortunately a fumble of the ball into touch from Mellanby inside Scotland’s 22 gifted the opposition a line out. Ireland had a powerful maul which Louise Taperell was found guilty of collapsing, and was shown a yellow card. Ireland took a second lineout and this time, Sophie Barrett was over the line. O’Sullivan Sexton’s conversion was good (7-26, 47 mins).

After some back and forth in possession between the two sides, Robyn O’Connor suddenly found herself in space, running an arc down the wing, before Holly McIntyre tore her down ahead of the whitewash. Ireland recycled but Coubrough defended fantastically, holding Ireland up over the line.

Ireland continued to threaten Scotland inside their 22, and as they pressed Scotland’ defence, Flynn was found guilty of deliberate knock-on and was shown a yellow card, leaving Scotland down to 13 players just minutes before Taperell was due to come back on (55 mins).

Shortly after, Ireland crashed over for their fifth try from short range. The conversion was successful (7-33, 56 mins).

Unfortunately, Scotland continued to compound the errors, and again, Ireland capitalised, with Tara O’Neil next to cross the whitewash for the girls in green. The conversion was unsuccessful (7-38, 62 mins).

It wasn’t long after the restart that Ireland’s wing was lighting u again, with O’Connor scoring her second try, dancing around the edge of the pitch to evade the defence. The conversion was missed (7-43, 64 mins).

It wasn’t long before she added another through O’Connor again after Rebekah Douglas knocked the ball on at the base of the scrum inside Scotland’s 22. The scrum was restarted in Ireland’s favour, and quickly O’Connor slides through to score once more. The conversion hit the posts and didn’t go over (7-48, 66 mins).

Ireland continued to command proceedings, scoring their nineth try of the day through Aoibhe O’Flynn after a series of fast paced offloading and forward picks. Caitriona Finn converted the extras (7-57, 76 mins).

As the clock wound down, Ainsworth’s decision to exit from the scrum inside’s Scotland’s half saw Ireland retaliate in their attack, breaking down the wing. Ireland were taken into touch just five metres from the Scottish try line. The Scot’s lineout went to ground and was gathered by Ireland and they dotted down for their final try of the match. Finn converted and the match game to a conclusion.

Full-time: Scotland Women U20 7 – 62 Ireland

Scotland Women U20: 15. Poppy Mellanby 14. Emily Norval – Vice-captain 13. Nicole Flynn 12. Lucy MacRae 11. Freya MacColl 10. Ceitidh Ainsworth 9. Emily Love 1. Poppy Fletcher – Captain 2. Megan Hyland 3. Eilidh Fleming 4. Aisha Zameer 5. Gemma Thomson 6. Merryn Gunderson 7. Lily Crisp 8. Emily Coubrough

Replacements: 16. Karis Craig 17. Louise Taperell 18. Megan Riach 19. Holly Wilson 20. Sophie Price 21. Rebekah Douglas 22. Holly McIntyre 23. Lisa Brown

Ireland Women U20: 15. Lyndsey Clarke 14. Katie Corrigan 13. Clara Dunne 12. Lucia Linn 11. Emily Foley 10. Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton 9. May Goulding 1. Grainne Burke 2. Maebh Clenaghan 3. Lily Morris 4. Alma Atagamen 5. Beibhinn Gleeson 6. Rosie Searle 7. Jane Neill 8. Jemima Adams Verling

Replacements: 16. Saoirse Crowe 17. Ella Burns 18. Sophie Barrett 19. Aoibhe O’Flynn 20. Sally Kelly 21. Caitriona Finn 22. Tara O’Neill 23. Robyn O’Connor

Referee: Emily Hope