The score line in this game perhaps flattered England as the Irish competed for a large part of the fixture at Esher Rugby Club. Niamh Briggs opened the scoring for Ireland with a penalty and in a scrappy first half the honours were even 6-6 thanks to penalties from both Briggs for Ireland and Kathy McLean for England.
The second period and England lost Maggie Alphonsie to injury and could still not breakdown the stubborn Irish defence. They did take the lead thanks to a massive penalty strike by Scarratt early into the half. However it took until 60 minutes for the impasse to be broken by Kathy McLean touching down and then converting her own try to break the Irish resolve and take England out to 16-6. This was extended by a push over try touched down by Amy Turner and conversion to seal it and to give us the final score and the Grand Slam:
England Women 23-6 Ireland Women
England Head Coach Gary Street said: (quote) I am as proud of this squad as much as I am pleased. The players have worked so hard and it is not easy mentally to keep being expected to win the Six Nations. We expected this championship to be our toughest and it has been, and that can only be good for women’s rugby. We need tough games and we want spectators to see a real contest. I am really pleased with how we have been tactically against France and Ireland in the last two rounds. We had a very strong game plan and today we didn’t show our hand early on, we stayed patient, which was key, as we knew that our bench would make a real impression and our fitness would tell. We expected the first half to be as tough as it was. We knew Ireland would hold us as they had a real chance of winning the Six Nations and the first 40 minutes was always going to be a real slog fest. It was really important that we didn’t panic because we weren’t dominating the first half like we usually do but we were always really confident that our fitness levels and our bench would do the final bit of talking and finish the job off. That happened as we dominated the next 40 minutes and showed real control. (end quote)
Scorers
England
Tries: McLean, Turner
Conversions: McLean (2)
Penalties: McLean (2), Scarratt
Ireland
Penalties: Briggs (2)
Teams
England:15 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield), 14 Katherine Merchant (Worcester), 13 Rachael Burford (Richmond), 12 Kimberley Oliver (Bristol), 11 Kay Wilson (Bristol), 10 Katy Mclean (C) (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 9 Natasha Hunt (Lichfield), 1 Laura Keates (Worcester), 2 Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield), 3 Sophie Hemming (Bristol), 4 Rowena Burnfield (Richmond), 5 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 6 Marlie Packer (Bristol), 7 Margaret Alphonsi (VC) (Saracens), 8 Sarah Hunter (Lichfield). Replacements: 16 Amy Turner (Richmond), 17 Rochelle Clark (Worcester), 18 Rebecca Essex (Richmond), 19 Hannah Gallagher (Saracens), 20 La Toya Mason (Wasps), 21 Ceri Large (Worcester), 22 Michaela Staniford (Wasps)
Replacements: Gallagher, Staniford, Mason, Essex, Clark, Turner, Large.
Ireland: 15 Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), 14 Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians/Munster), 13 Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster), 12 Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster), 11 Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Highfield/Connacht), 10 Lynne Cantwell (Exile), 9 Amy Davis (Blackrock/Leinster), 1 Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) (Capt), 2 Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster), 3 Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), 4 Sophie Spence (Exile), 5 Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster), 6 Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster), 7 Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht), 8 Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster).
Replacements: 16 Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), 17 Ruth O’Reilly (Galwegians/Connacht), 18 Siobhan Fleming (Tralee/Munster), 19 Heather O’Brien (Highfield/Munster), 20 Larissa Muldoon (Exile/UWIC/Ulster), 21 Shannon Houston (Blackrock College/Leinster), 22 Jennifer Murphy (Exile)
Officials
Referee: Nicky Inwood (NZ)
Assistant Referees: Steve Harland & Simon Adams
Other results:
Italy Women 29-12 Scotland Women in Rovato, (Brescia)
What a not us as well moment for Scotland as they joined the men with the wooden spoon.
Scorers
Itay Women
Tries: Manuela Furlan, Silvia Gaudino, Vanessa Chindamo, Chiara Castellarin, Lucia Gai
Cons: Veronica Schiavon 2
Scotland Women
Tries: Lauren Harris, Sarah Dixon
Cons: Lisa Ritchie
Wales Women 0-31 France Women Pandy Park, Cross Keys
The French Women did what the men could not and out powered the Welsh in every area as the comfortably won their meeting at Cross Keys.
Scorers
France Women
Tries: Gaelle Mignot 2, Caroline Ladagnous, Audrey Forlani, Elodie Portaries
Cons: Aurelie Bailon, Jessy Tremouliere 2
Wales Women