Ireland set up Triple Crown clash

In a stop start game, the home side won well without ever getting into fifth gear as the Scotlands wait goes on to score their first points of this tournament.

Ireland deserved their win finishing off three well worked tries with the likes of Claire Molloy and Niamh Kavanagh in fine form but Scotland will rue not making the most of a number of scoring chances in Irelands 22, especially in the first half.

Ireland got off to a great start scoring through Sophie Spence after just five minutes. Scotland had defended well in the opening phases but the pace and strength of Niamh Kavanagh out wide was too much to handle and her run set up an easy score under the posts which Niamh Briggs converted.

It was all Ireland for the opening quarter and it took a try saving tackle from Sarah Dixon to stop a certain try after Briggs burst through the middle.

But Scotland hit back and worked their way into Irelands 22. They came close to scoring their first 6 Nations points when Stephanie Johnston burst through the middle but Ireland rallied well in defence. Katy Green then made a dash down the wing but again Irelands defence held up

Ireland then showed Scotland how exactly you take chances at this level though making the most of a great break from Lynne Cantwell and the ball was worked well out to Ashleigh Baxter whose pace took her over for a 12-0 lead.

Scotlands inability to be clinical beset them again before the break when Lindsay Wheelers pass to two on-running players in the Irish 22 went wide and they spurned another good try scoring chance as Ireland took a 12-0 lead into half-time.

Briggs extended the lead to 15-0 with an early penalty after half-time and then a moment of magic from Alison Miller almost saw Ireland score a third try but Kavanaghs foot was judged to have been in touch.

Scotlands Louise Dalgleish tried to speed the game up for her side with a series of quick taps as Ireland were pinged again and again in defence by the overly fussy Sylvia Bros but in a second half lacking in scoring opportunities they couldnt make it count

As the half wore on, the errors increased and Ireland were perhaps guilty of trying to score too quickly when they had ball rather than building through the phases despite their 15 point cushion.

Both Briggs and Tanya Griffith were working good positions well with the boot but neither side could make the breakthrough.

Irelands eventual third try finally came after the Irish seized on a charged down kick in the Scottish 22 and when the ball went wide Miller raced over in the corner.

A dour second half, in no part helped by a referee who played minimal advantage, ended with a solid enough Ireland win.

The Irish will be delighted with an excellent campaign so far this season and they will take plenty of belief to London next weekend.

Scotland cannot but be frustrated at their inability to turn pressure into points but crucially they did create more in the game than in previous matches.

IRELAND WOMEN: Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster); Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians/Munster), Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster), Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster), Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Highfield/Connacht); Lynne Cantwell (Exile), Amy Davis (Blackrock/Leinster); Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) (capt), Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Sophie Spence (Exile), Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster), Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht), Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster).

Replacements: Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster) (for Fitzpatrick 50 mins) Ruth O'Reilly (Galwegians/Connacht) (for Coghlan 72), Siobhan Fleming (Tralee/Munster) (for Guest 55), Heather O'Brien (Highfield/Munster), Larissa Muldoon (Exile/UWIC/Ulster) (for Davis 60). Shannon Houston (Blackrock/Leinster) (for Davitt 65) Jennifer Murphy (Exile) (for Kavanagh 70)

SCOTLAND WOMEN: Stephanie Johnston (RHC Cougars); Katy Green (Murrayfield Wanderers), Laura Steven (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lisa Ritchie (Carlisle), Sarah Dixon (Stirling County); Tanya Griffith (RHC Cougars), Louise Dalgliesh (RHC Cougars); Tracy Balmer (Worcester), Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers), Beth Dickens (Murrayfield Wanderers), Anna Swan (RHC Cougars), Jemma Forsyth (Hillhead/Jordanhill), Lindsay Wheeler (Richmond), Ruth Slaven (Murrayfield Wanderers), Susie Brown (Richmond) (capt).

Replacements: Alison Macdonald (RHC Cougars), Heather Lockhart (Hillhead/Jordanhill), Katherine Muir (Richmond) (for Swan 75), Charlotte Veale (London Wasps), Tess Forsberg (Richmond), Lisa Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers) (for Ritchie 70), Lauren Harris (Melrose) (for Dixon 70)

Referee: Sylvie Bros (France)