Women's Triple Crown

[SparkyClarky]

Well done the ladies!
Lets go all the way for the Championship.

[Ithryn]

Yeah that's pretty impressive stuff.

[Rooster]

Scotland 3 Ireland 30

[Rooster]

RBS Six Nations Women's Championship
Ireland 30 Scotland 3
The Ireland Women got the victory they required to seal a first ever Triple Crown and qualification for the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup as they powered to a 30-3 win over Scotland at Lasswade today.

It was a richly deserved win for the Fiona Coghlan-led Irish team who turned in another stellar performance just a week after their historic defeat of England in Ashbourne.

Having fallen behind to an early penalty from Scotland centre Lisa Ritchie, Ireland knuckled down and Niamh Briggs, who had a terrific game at full-back, kicked them level in the 23rd minute.

Philip Doyle's side pushed on to take an 8-3 interval lead with a sweeping 27th minute move ending with Alison Miller touching down in the corner.

Scotland hammered away at the Irish defence in the closing stages of the first half and a key turnover from Ashleigh Baxter ensured the visitors held out.

It remained a tight, hard-fought contest after the resumption, with Scotland clearly growing in confidence as the Irish errors increased.

But when Briggs landed a penalty after Scotland out-half Tanya Griffith was sin-binned for persistent infringements, Ireland settled back into their stride and the tries duly came.

Miller then scorched over for her fifth try in two outings, finishing off in clinical fashion with the initial damage done by a surging Briggs run.

Briggs converted for an 18-3 scoreline and also added the extras to a well-merited try from flanker Siobhan Fleming, a player who has really grasped her opportunity in the last two matches.

The icing on the cake was a late fourth try from Briggs whose conversion attempt came back off an upright.

She finished with 15 points as the girls in green stormed home in the closing stages, making history with a first Triple Crown and keeping on track for a maiden RBS 6 Nations title.

Match report courtesy of IRFU

SCORERS:

Scotland Women: Pen: Lisa Ritchie

Ireland Women: Tries: Alison Miller 2, Siobhan Fleming, Niamh Briggs; Cons: Niamh Briggs 2; Pens: Niamh Briggs 2

TEAMS:

Scotland Women: Steph Johnston (RHC Cougars); Annabel Sergeant (Richmond), Sarah Dixon (RHC Cougars), Lisa Ritchie (Carlisle), Megan Gaffney (Hillhead Jordanhill); Tanya Griffith (RHC Cougars), Louise Dalgliesh (RHC Cougars); Heather Lockhart (Hillhead Jordanhill), Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers), Tracey Balmer (Worcester), Lindsay Wheeler (Richmond), Becca Parker (Hillhead Jordanhill), Jade Konkel (Hillhead Jordanhill), Tess Forsberg (Richmond), Susie Brown (Richmond) (capt).

Replacements: Beth Dickens (Murrayfield Wanderers), Suzanne McKerlie-Hex (Murrayfield Wanderers), Nikki McLeod (Morgan), Bridget Millar-Mills (Worcester), Kelly Shields (Murrayfield Wanderers), Sarah Law (Murrayfield Wanderers), Laura Steven (Murrayfield Wanderers), Leanne Neary (RHC Cougars).

Ireland Women: Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster); Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Lynne Cantwell (Richmond/Exile), Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht); Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Larissa Muldoon (UWIC/Exile); Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) (capt), Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster), Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Sophie Spence (Mowden Park Sharks/Exile), Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Siobhan Fleming (Tralee/Munster), Claire Molloy (Bristol/Exile), Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster).

Replacements: Stacey-Lea Kennedy (City of Derry/Ulster), Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster), Lauren Day (Waterloo/Exile), Leigh Dargan (Saracens/Exile), Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster), Amy Davis (Blackrock College/Ulster), Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster), Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians/Munster).

Referee: Simon Rees (Wales)

[BaggyTrousers]

Saw a few minutes highlights on RTE, very very impressive, full back & left winger in particular look really talented players. Would be great if they could do the slam.

[Russ]

Who's the coach? Can we have him/her?

[Rooster]

Who's the coach? Can we have him/her?

Philip Doyle

[Russ]

Who's the coach? Can we have him/her?

Philip Doyle

Surely not the Philip Doyle. Off to check the Philip Doyle I know's bakebook page and see if it is him

Is he any good?

[Bellyups]

Maybe a few of them could play for the proper Ireland team. They shouldn't be allowed to play on a Sunday, who's meant to cook the Sunday dinner if they're all off trying to be men!

[LadyP]

Maybe a few of them could play for the proper Ireland team. They shouldn't be allowed to play on a Sunday, who's meant to cook the Sunday dinner if they're all off trying to be men!

Maybe you can pop over to Ashbourne and share this bit of wisdom with some these ladies who are doing Ulster and Ireland proud.

[shamalicious]

I hope you're joking Bellyups, and even if you are, it's a lazy and misogynistic joke at that.

[Wee Woman]

Maybe a few of them could play for the proper Ireland team. They shouldn't be allowed to play on a Sunday, who's meant to cook the Sunday dinner if they're all off trying to be men!

Weak!

[Rooster]

Maybe a few of them could play for the proper Ireland team. They shouldn't be allowed to play on a Sunday, who's meant to cook the Sunday dinner if they're all off trying to be men!

Weak!

Could we get a fight out of this WW ?

[Wee Woman]

Not from me Rooster, couldn't be arsed

[Dewi Barnes]

Comprehensive coverage here http://thefrontrowunion.com/2013/02/wom ... ple-crown/ featuring the 6 Ulster girls in the team. We'll also be doing live coverage of their matches agaisnt France and Italy.