Historic win for Ireland

The result means Ireland are now favourites for this year's 6 Nations title, with France to come at home later in the competition.

It's the first time since 2004 that England have failed to score a point in an international game and Ireland will be thrilled to have finally put one over on a side who have been too strong every time the two have met.

A hat-trick from Alison Miller was the highlight for Ireland, with all of the extra points from fullback Niamh Briggs, as Ireland were dominant in almost every department. Much may be made of the players England were missing for this clash, with 17 names absent, but such was Ireland's control throughout the match that nothing can be taken away from what was a magnificent effort by Philip Doyle's charges.

England looked stronger towards the end of the game when their bench added some real bite and there may well be changes before they welcome France to Twickenham in two weeks time.  The result leaves Ireland just 80 minutes away from their first ever Triple Crown, and puts them in pole position to challenge for the Championship in the coming weeks and confirm their place at the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup.

Ireland started very well with a score in the seventh minute when Miller dived over in the corner to make it 5-0 before Briggs extended the lead to eight with a well taken penalty five minutes later.

After half an hour Ireland increased their lead further, again Miller proving difficult to stop as she dived over in the opposite corner to make it 13-0. She completed her hat-trick just before the break, and Briggs added the extras to make it 20-0 with a comfortable lead for Ireland, who were dominating in all areas at the halftime break.

After the break Ireland picked up where they left off and had their fourth try after 45 minutes as Briggs went over in the corner to give Ireland a 25-point advantage - the try coming from a dominant scrum and a great pass from Joy Neville.

England struggled to create any momentum as Ireland continued to pin the visitors back with some huge tackles. Sadly England were then forced to watch Fiona Pocock stretchered off with just five minutes to go - the winger making her return in recent weeks after over two years out with a knee injury.

England pushed hard late in the game, with some good impact from Georgina Gulliver, Emma Croker and Harriet Miller-Mills but Ireland, through Niamh Kavanagh and Marie Louise O'Reilly put in some huge hits to keep them scoreless.

Match video

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

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

ENGLAND WOMEN:Kay Wilson (Bristol); Francesca Matthews (Richmond), Abigail Chamberlain (Richmond), Amber Reed (Bristol), Sally Tuson (Bristol); Ceri Large (Worcester), La Toya Mason (Wasps); Rochelle Clark (Worcester), Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield), Sophie Hemming (Bristol), Rowena Burnfield (Richmond), Tamara Taylor (Lichfield), Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps), Hannah Gallagher (Saracens), Sarah Hunter (Lichfield) (capt).

Replacements:Emma Croker (Richmond), Laura Keates (Worcester), Roz Crowley (Lichfield), Rebecca Essex (Richmond), Harriet Millar-Mills (Lichfield), Georgina Gulliver (Lichfield), Lauren Cattell (Saracens), Fiona Pocock (Richmond).

Referee:Andrea Spadoni (Italy)Assistant Referees:Helen O'Reilly, Edward Kenny (both Ireland)