Scotland Women 5 Ireland Women 22

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Ireland got off to a strong start and, after keeping the ball alive well for a number of phases, they scored the opening try.

It came in the fifth minute through second-row Aoife McDermott, but was unconverted to leave things at 5-0.

Credit to Scotland, they didn’t panic having let in that early score and they started to build up some phases of their own with back-row Rachel Malcolm and skipper Lisa Thomson carrying well.

They were also confident to take scrums when they had the chance – something to do with the work they have been putting in with Al Dickinson no doubt – and eventually it paid off.

Ireland were defending well, but in the 20th minute Scotland found some joy on the stand side and centre Hannah Smith ran a clever line to go over for the try.

The tough conversion by hooker Lana Skeldon was missed, but it was 5-5 and game on.

The game was then played in between the 22s for a pell, both sides giving it their all, but not able to make valuable yards.

That was until just after the half hour mark when Ireland winger Alison Miller got away from her marker Liz Musgrove and burst towards the Scotland try line only for a combination of Smith and full-back Chloe Rollie hauling her down.

Ireland were on the front foot at this stage and, again after working patiently through the phases, tighthead prop Leah Lyons barged her way over for the try.

The conversion was missed and it was 10-5 to the Irish after the first 40 minutes.

At half-time, Scotland replaced second-row Deborah McCormack with Nicola Howat.

Ireland took confidence from the try just at the end of the first half and bagged their third in the 44th minute.

It came through Miller in the left corner and, although unconverted, it meant that Ireland were 10 points up.

As both sides started to make more changes, Ireland stayed on the front foot and scored their bonus point fourth try in the 57th minute.

This time back-row Anna Caplice went over with stand-off Nicole Fowley converting to make it 22-5.

Scotland’s heads could have gone down at that stage in the windy and rainy conditions, but they kept going and Rollie wass trying to spur them on.

In general they were just starved of ball though and the Irish were laying a very smart game in the circumstances.

The game ended 22-5 and Scotland, now with losses to Italy and Ireland under their belts, will have to take time out and regroup ahead of a trip to France in a fortnight in week three.

Stats

Scotland: C Rollie; L Musgrove, H Smith, L Thomson (C), A Sergeant; H Nelson, M Grieve; L Cockburn, L Skeldon, M Kennedy, E Wassell, D McCormack, R Malcolm, R McLachlan, S Bonar. Subs: J Rettie, K Dougan, M Forsyth, S Anderson, N Howat, S Law, L Martin, R Lloyd.

Ireland: L Delany; E Considine, S Naoupu, M Claffey, A Miller, N Fowley, A Hughes; L Feely, E Hooban, L Lyons, A McDermott, N Fryday, A Caplice, C Molloy, C Griffin (C). Subs: D Nic A Bhaird, L Djougang, F Reidy, C Boles, C McLaughlin, K Dane, E Murphy, M Williams.

Scorers: Scotland: Try: Smith. Ireland: Tries: McDermott, Lyons, Miller Caplice. Con: Fowley.

Referee: B Benvenuti (Italy).

Attendance: 1, 778.

Thanks to Mark Brown/Rugby People for the photo

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