Power tells in the end for women

Women's Six Nations Championship/Ireland 13 Scotland 3: Ireland registered their second home win of the Women's Six Nations Championship in a game that marked the official switching on of the floodlights at Dublin's Templeville Road last night.

Scotland, still waiting to open their account, had put it up to the Irish early on, and their one successful penalty kick separated the teams at the break.

It was the second time Ireland had failed to score in the first half in this year's campaign but while they failed to capitalise on possession in the first half, their power up front saw them home in the second.

Facing into the breeze in the first half, Ireland had to survive 10 minutes with just 14 players after outhalf Jo O'Sullivan was sinbinned on 28 minutes.

And while still remaining competitive up front, particularly in the rucks, Ireland went in 3-0 down at the break, the Scottish scrumhalf Sarah Gill having converted from in front of the posts on 34 minutes.

But Ireland went in front on 44 minutes when Jess Limbert and Tania Rosser combined to release O'Sullivan.

O'Sullivan's pace combined with a last-minute change of direction enabled the Richmond player to score to the left of the posts.

A good break by O'Sullivan then set up a simple enough penalty opportunity for Grace Davitt three minutes later.

And with the Scottish number eight Louise Moffat handed a yellow card on 62 minutes, Ireland - who had twice driven their opponents upfield from the maul - went over for their second try in the 69th minute.

Orla Brenner and Rosser were involved in the move before the Ireland captain, Sarah-Jane Belton, came into the line to touch down on the right-hand side.

IRELAND: SJ Belton; L Cantwell, P Kelly, S Houston, G Davitt; O'Sullivan, T Rosser; F Coghlan, J Limbert, M Barrett; C Mahon, G Healy; E O'Sullivan, O Brennan, S Ryan. Replacements: L Austin for E O'Sullivan (70 mins), G Burke for Barrett, L Beamish for Rosser (both 72 mins), A Davis for Davitt (74 mins), G Bourke for Limbert (77 mins), Y Nolan for Ryan, N Briggs for Belton (both 79 mins).

SCOTLAND: L Douglas; H Bielinski, V Fitzpatrick, S Newton, C D'Silva; L Dalgliesh, S Gill; H Lockhart, S L Walker, B Dickens; J McCord, L Wheeler; L Blyth, L Moffat, L Reid. Replacements: J Hutchinson for Lockhart, M Lafalki for Dickens, T Griffith for Bielinski (all 51 mins), K Holdsworth for Moffatt (75 mins), L Steven for Dalgleish (77 mins).

Referee: Sabine Darrieux (France).

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times