Molloy And Peat Propel Ireland Women To Hard-Fought Win

Claire Molloy celebrated her 70th Ireland cap with a try-scoring player-of-the-match performance in tonight’s hard-earned 21-7 win over Italy at Energia Park.

As Adam Griggs’ side resumed the Women’s Six Nations with a third successive home victory, flanker Molloy starred after a 19-month absence due to her work as a doctor.

Having gone behind to Melissa Bettoni’s 15th-minute try, Ireland roared back with late converted tries from Lindsay Peat and Molloy to lead 14-7 at half-time.

The second half was evenly fought and it took until the 70th minute for the home scrum – reinforced by Leah Lyons and new cap Neve Jones – to force a clinching penalty try.

With Hannah Tyrrell getting valuable game-time on her first start at out-half, and Brittany Hogan and Katie O’Dwyer also making their debuts up front, it was a solid return to action for the Ireland Women, particularly from a defensive point of view.

Italy’s enforcer Giada Franco made an early impression with some forceful carries amid a cagey opening from both teams. Returning openside Molloy quickly smothered a loose Italian pass which led to a clearing penalty for Ireland.

Italy emerged scoreless from a dominant spell inside the Irish 22, Aura Muzzo just held up short by Laura Sheehan’s last-ditch tackle. A Linda Djougang turnover briefly lifted the siege, but the visitors soon heaped pressure on the Ireland scrum.

Tyrrell kicked out on the full and the Azzurre took full advantage, Franco gaining big yards again before Michela Sillari’s inviting offload out of a tackle sent hooker Bettoni over from a few metres out. Sillari converted for a seven-point lead.

Both sides endured lineout issues in their efforts to build momentum, but once Beibhinn Parsons was finally released in the 24th minute, she caused immediate damage with an incisive 20-metre run. A Ciara Cooney knock-on, however, allowed Italy to clear.

Parsons then needed a kinder bounce when she was first to a Tyrrell kick through, the teenager’s knock-on was followed a few minutes later by one from Nichola Fryday just when Ireland were getting into scoring range off a well-won Molloy penalty.

Yet, the girls in green mustered a brilliant finish to the first half. Their tactic of going short at a lineout set up a decent 35th-minute maul, and when possession was worked infield, evergreen prop Peat did superbly well to turn out of a triple tackle and ground the ball successfully.

Following TMO confirmation, Tyrrell converted to bring the home side level. They had the bit between their teeth now and a sparkling spell of handling ended with Peat offload for Molloy to touch down following an initial juggle.

Tyrrell, Sene Naoupu and Sheehan all showed their Sevens experience with some direct running – matched by Enya Breen’s endeavour – to push the Italian defence back, and Kathryn Dane delivered a quick service off the base, eventually paving the way for Peat and Molloy to deliver the lead score, which Tyrrell crisply converted.

Cliodhna Moloney, the newly-named Irish Women’s 15s Player of the Year, was prominent early in the second half, winning a turnover penalty. However, Italy kept Ireland out from a lineout opportunity in the 22 and then won a scrum against the head, further out.

Having absorbed more Italian pressure, Ireland charged back downfield with some big carries from Fryday and abrasive duo Djougang and Dorothy Wall. Molloy jinked inside a defender but the attack was spoiled by a ruck infringement from lock Fryday.

There were some error-strewn passages, as expected given the teams last played together in February. Workhorse winger Sheehan had few opportunities in attack but she covered a lot of ground in defence and cut off a number of opportunities for the Azzurre out wide.

Ireland were let down by a crooked lineout just as a Molloy-inspired attack looked set to pay dividends. Yet, the forwards regrouped and following a Moloney charge-down, the resulting five-metre scrum earned a penalty try with the newly-introduced Jones and Lyons making an immediate impact.

Italy had the territory to get back into contention late on, but a crooked lineout and two knock-ons saw them cough up hard-earned ball. Ireland, who host France in Donnybrook next Sunday, ended the game in control of possession with new prop O’Dwyer making one eye-catching surge up towards halfway.

TIME LINE: 15 minutes – Italy try: Melissa Bettoni – 0-5; conversion: Michela Sillari – 0-7; 37 mins – Ireland try: Lindsay Peat – 5-7; conversion: Hannah Tyrrell – 7-7; 40+1 mins – Ireland try: Claire Molloy – 12-7; conversion: Hannah Tyrrell – 14-7; Half-time – Ireland 14 Italy 7; 70 mins – Ireland try: Penalty try – 19-7; conversion: Pen try con – 21-7; Full-time – Ireland 21 Italy 7

IRELAND WOMEN: Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby); Laura Sheehan (UL Bohemians/Munster), Enya Breen (UL Bohemians/Munster), Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Beibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College/Connacht); Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere/Ulster); Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Cliodhna Moloney (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Blackrock College/Connacht), Ciara Cooney (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College/Munster), Claire Molloy (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt).

Replacements used: Brittany Hogan (DCU/Old Belvedere/Ulster) for Fryday (64 mins), Neve Jones (Malone/Ulster) for Moloney, Leah Lyons (Harlequins/IQ Rugby) for Djougang (both 69), Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock College/Leinster) for Wall (71), Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock College/Leinster) for Naoupu (72), Larissa Muldoon (Railway Union/Leinster) for Delany, Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster) for Dane (both 77), Katie O’Dwyer (Railway Union/Leinster) for Peat (79).

ITALY WOMEN: Manuela Furlan (Arredissima Villorba) (capt); Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Michela Sillari (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Beatrice Rigoni (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Aura Muzzo (Arredissima Villorba); Veronia Madia (Rugby Colorno), Sofia Stefan (Valsugana Rugby Padova); Silvia Turani (FC Grenoble), Melissa Bettoni (Stade Rennais), Lucia Gai (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Sara Tounesi (ASM Romagnat), Giordana Duca (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Francesca Sgorbini (ASM Romagnat), Giada Franco (Rugby Colorno), Elisa Giordano (Valsugana Rugby Padova).

Replacements used: Sara Barattin (Arredissima Villorba) for Furlan (55 mins), Giulia Cerato (Valsugana Rugby Padova) for Bettoni (56), Valeria Fedrighi (Stade Toulousain) for Tounesi (59), Beatrice Capomaggi (Unione Rugby Capitolina) for Madia (69), Benedetta Mancini (Unione Rugby Capitolina) for Muzzo, Erika Skofca (Valsugana Rugby Padova) for Turani, Francesca Sberna (Kawasaki Robot Calvisano) for Franco (all 71), Michela Merlo (Kawasaki Rugby Calvisano) for Capomaggi (72).

Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)