Scotland will head into the Women’s Rugby World Cup off the back of a 27-21 loss to Ireland in Cork, but more worrying than the result in the Summer Test was the injury suffered by key player Lana Skeldon.
Time will tell if the experienced hooker, who seemed to be screaming in pain in the first half before being taken off with what looked like a leg injury in the reverse, makes it to the big dance in England later this month and into September.
Scotland had already had to make a late change before kick-off in this one with Rhona Lloyd out, Coreen Grant starting on the wing and Evie Wills coming onto the bench.
And if 31-year-old Skeldon does not make it to the World Cup it will be a massive blow.
The Scotland 32-strong squad is due to be named this coming week.
Scotland got off to a pretty decent start at Virgin Media Park and, after five minutes, had a good lineout position near the Irish try line, but second-row Emma Wassell could not take the throw from Skeldon cleanly.
Molly Scuffil-McCabe, the Irish scrum-half, then burst away into the Scotland ‘22’, but back-row Rachel McLachlan won an important turnover penalty.
A driving lineout from Scotland got them close to the Irish try line before winger Amee-Leigh Costigan secured a turnover. Back-row Grace Moore then returned to the field for Ireland after going off early with blood on her face.
That was in the 13th minute and, in the 16th minute, back-row Alex Stewart picked up a lose ball in the Ireland ‘22’ and was propelled forward with the help of stand-off Hannah Ramsay on debut.
Scrum-half Caity Mattinson then fed Skeldon who topped on to centre Lisa Thomson and she barged over for a try. The same player converted and it was 7-0.
And in the 21st minute things got better when winger Lucia Scott ran a great line and took a pass from Mattinson to burst through a gap and score. Thomson converted and it was 14-0.
Just before the half hour, Ramsay was caught trying to run the ball out of her own ‘22’, but from the resultant turnover and penalty Ireland could not take immediate advantage.
Skeldon was then injured soon after and needed treatment on the field with a lengthy stoppage.
She was taken off on a cart and Elis Martin came on to replace her.
Five minutes before the break, Ireland tighthead prop Sadhbh McGrath powered over for their first points on the day. Stand-off Dannah O’Brien’s conversion attempt hit the upright and it was 14-5.
They had their tails up now and a well-worked try by full-back Méabh Deely, expertly converted by O’Brien made it 14-12 at the break and it was certainly ‘game on’.
Leah Bartlett replaced Anne Young at loosehead prop for Scotland at the start of the second half.
Ireland kept up the momentum from the end of the first half at the start of that period though and only great work on the ground from skipper Rachel Malcolm and tighthead prop Elliann Clarke held them up over the try line.
Centre Nancy McGillivray then scored a debut unconverted try after 45 minutes and it was 17-14 to the Irish.
Scotland had been second best since Skeldon went off and needed to try and turn the tide as Leia Brebner-Holden came on for Mattinson at nine with 29 minutes to go.
A TMO check then saw Grant yellow carded for a deliberate knock on and things were going from bad to worse for Scotland.
Molly Poolman then replaced Clarke at tighthead and Beth Blacklock came on for Ramsay.
Scotland had been starved of possession pretty much since the half hour mark, but in the 64th minute a brilliant break from centre Emma Orr saw her streak past the defence and in for a try. Thomson converted and it was 21-17.
Wassell and Malcolm were then replaced by Adelle Ferrie and Eva Donaldson. Thomson became skipper.
The lead that Scotland had did not last long though as, in the 67th minute, Ireland sub Niamh O’Dowd went over for their fourth try. It was unconverted and it was 22-21.
Brebner-Holden was then forced off for an HIA with Wills coming on – and full-back Chloe Rollie going to nine – and a late try from replacement Deirbhile Nic a Bháird sealed the deal for the hosts. The conversion attempt hit the post, but they won 27-21.
Scotland also lost 34-29 to Italy in last Friday’s first Summer Test and the first World Cup game is versus Wales on August 23 in Manchester.
Scotland squad that played Ireland: Chloe Rollie; Coreen Grant, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Lucia Scott; Hannah Ramsay, Caity Mattinson; Anne Young, Lana Skeldon, Elliann Clarke, Emma Wassell, Rachel Malcolm (C), Rachel McLachlan, Alex Stewart, Evie Gallagher. Subs: Elis Martin, Leah Bartlett, Molly Poolman, Adelle Ferrie, Eva Donaldson, Leia Brebner-Holden, Beth Blacklock, Evie Wills.
Scorers: Tries: Lisa Thomson, Lucia Scott, Emma Orr. Cons: Lisa Thomson (3).
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The Ireland-Scotland game is pictured
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