Ireland record historic win

The win also means that Ireland are now safely qualified for the 2014 World Cup, while Scotland now will definitely have to travel to Madrid in April to compete for one of the two remaining European places.

Ireland scored a number of late tries to secure what was a convincing win in the end but they were pushed all the way in the first hour by a very plucky Scotland side, seeking their first win in the competition.

Scotland indeed made the stronger start and were rewarded by taking an early lead through a penalty from centre Lisa Ritchie. The home side had Ireland under pressure early on but as the visitors grew into the game ,were forced into some stern defending to keep Ireland out.

Finally Irish fullback Niamh Briggs sparked to life with a great link up with Ashleigh Baxter and she kicked a resultant penalty as Scotland were forced into conceding at the breakdown.  .

Ireland pushed on to take an 8-3 interval lead with a sweeping 27th minute move ending with Alison Miller touching down in the corner. It was Miller’s fourth try of the tournament, as she has displayed her finishing power brilliantly this season.

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

That was a key moment for Ireland who managed to hang onto their lead into the break against a home side growing in confidence.

When Briggs landed a penalty after Scotland out-half Tanya Griffith was sin-binned for persistent infringements, Ireland then settled began to control the game and it was one way traffic on the scoreboard from there on in.

Miller raced 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 who came off the bench to good effect.

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 Ireland stormed home in the closing stages, making history with a first Triple Crown and keeping on track for a maiden RBS 6 Nations title.

Scotland: 15 Steph Johnston (RHC Cougars), 14 Annabel Sergeant (Richmond), 13  Sarah Dixon (RHC Cougars), 12 Lisa Ritchie (Carlisle), 11 Megan Gaffney (Hillhead Jordanhill), 10 Tanya Griffith (RHC Cougars), 9 Louise Dalgliesh (RHC Cougars), 1 Heather Lockhart (Hillhead Jordanhill), 2 Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers), 3 Tracey Balmer (Worcester), 4  Lindsay Wheeler (Richmond), 5  Becca Parker (Hillhead Jordanhill), 6 Jade Konkel (Hillhead Jordanhill), 7 Tess Forsberg (Richmond), 8  Susie Brown (c) (Richmond)

Substitutes: 16 Beth Dickens (Murrayfield Wanderers), 17 Suzanne McKerlie-Hex (Murrayfield Wanderers), 18 Nikki McLeod (Morgan), 19 Bridget Millar-Mills (Worcester), 20  Kelly Shields (Murrayfield Wanderers), 21 Sarah Law (Murrayfield Wanderers) 22 Laura Steven (Murrayfield Wanderers), 23 Leanne Neary (RHC Cougars)

Ireland: 15. Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster); 14. Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster); 13. Lynne Cantwell (Richmond/Exiles); 12. Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster); 11. Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht); 10. Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster); 9. Larissa Muldoon (UWIC/Exiles); 1. Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) (capt); 2. Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster); 3. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster); 4. Sophie Spence (Mowden Park Sharks/Exiles); 5. Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster); 6. Siobhan Fleming (Tralee/Munster); 7. Claire Molloy (Bristol/Exiles); 8. Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster)

Replacements: 16. Stacey-Lea Kennedy (City of Derry/Ulster); 17. Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster); 18. Lauren Day (Waterloo/Exiles); 19. Leigh Dargan - (Saracens RFC/Exile); 20. Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster); 21. Amy Davis (Blackrock College/Ulster); 22. Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster); 23. Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians/Munster)