Victories for Ireland and Kazakhstan

Ireland ended their World Cup campaign with an impressive 32-8 victory over 6 Nations rivals Scotland.

Both teams were coming into the match on the back of losses in the last round but it was Ireland who hit back with the perfect reply with their excellent all-round display and victory.

The five try win means that Ireland finish the tournament having improved their world ranking by one spot to 7th while Scotland were already assured going into the match of moving up a place themselves finishing in 8th.

Ireland got off to a solid start when Niamh Briggs kicked a penalty just minutes in to settle the nerves and having impressed from the off, their first try wasn't long coming when Eliza Downey pushed the lead out to 8-0

The score came from a good burst from centre Jo O' Sullivan took play into Scotland's 22 and then the ball went wide quickly to Downey who used her pace to dot down in the corner. The start had the travelling support on their feet as Ireland totally dominated the opening exchanges.

Briggs then produced a spectacular score with a solo effort taking her on a 60 metre run as she touched down under the posts. She kicked the convert herself and Ireland were 15-0 up after just 15 minutes.

Scotland were finally jolted into life after the early flurry of Irish scores and they patiently worked their way into Ireland's half with a series of good forward drives. Finding themselves deep in Ireland's half, a good lineout and maul helped them over the line for their first score with veteran flanker Donna Kennedy - winning her 115th cap on the day - touching down.

The Scots then put Ireland under sustained pressure as they enjoyed a spell of dominance and it took some standout defence to keep them at bay towards the close of the fist half as Scottish skipper Lynne Reid and lock Lindsay Wheeler ran hard. To that end Claire Molloy and Joy Neville impressed with a number of crucial turnovers and great tackles but Scotland's pressure paid off when Nicola Halfpenny slotted a penalty before half time with Ireland still leading 15-8 at the turnaround.

Much like the start of the opening half though, Ireland took to the field firing after the break. Patient buildup play gave them excellent territory in the Scottish half and O'Sullivan and Molloy linked up in the middle to help move the ball wide quickly to Downey who squeezed over in the corner for her second try of the match.

The Irish then found themselves down to 14 when Marie Louise O'Reilly sent to the sinbin for a ruck infringement but Ireland coped well and picked up the tempo with some nice linking between Downey, Neville and Louise Beamish helping them into Scotland's half.

Their fourth try was a carbon copy of the one they had conceded to Scotland in the first half with a good lineout and maul seeing them over the tryline in the exact spot Kennedy had scored. Orla Brennan, who had just come off the replacements bench, was the player to crash over with Briggs nailing the kick from the touchline, Ireland were well on top.

Briggs helped add gloss to the score when she went over for Ireland's fifth after quick hands released the pacey fullback out wide.

The Irish ended the game with 14 players as Neville, who had been one of the best players on the park, was binned for not rolling away in a ruck but it made no difference to the outcome as the Irish saw the game out.

Ireland will be pleased with the strong finish to their World Cup and the reaction from the squad after a disappointing loss to the USA.

Oil and water. Salt and pepper. Brute force and subtly. Forwards vs backs. . Kazakhstand v Sweden.

A game of polar opposites that was the 11th place play-off. A fascinating, frustrating, game with two very different sides.Sweden had almost all of the ball especially in the second half but just could not turn it into points. The problem they have had through out the tournament keeping the ball through the phases and a lack of strength up front was evident again.

However, Kazakhstans basic problem of sheer discipline was also on display. The result was Sweden camped in the Kazakhstan half for most of the game, their opponents constantly pinned back due to their giving away penalty after penalty.

The first Kazakhstan try came from such a period of Swedish dominance the ball gon loose, a Kazakh break, and poor positioning allowing centre Khamova in. This was followed by the only period os sustained Kazakh pressure, and Kazakhstand= were 12-0 after 20 minutes.

After that immense frustration for the small group of dedicated Swedish supporters. Andersson-Hall missed two penalties, before finally hitting a third - the break 12-3 at half time then a second half played entirely in the Kazakh half. Penalties now turned into yellow cards, but still no breakthrough until five minutes before time when at last Frida Ryberg crossed the line by which time it was too late.And so Kazakhstan finished 11th, Sweden a brave 12th. The fomer have the strength, but not the finesse the latter the ideas and exciting backs, but litte up front. Together theyd make a great team!