Parsons’ Intercept Try Propels Ireland Women Over Finish Line

Beibhinn Parsons struck the decisive blow as her 66th-minute intercept try saw the Ireland Women edge out Scotland 18-14 in a tense Six Nations tussle at Energia Park.

Match Photo Gallery: Ireland Women 18 Scotland Women 14

Scottish lock Emma Wassell claimed the game’s final try while Leah Lyons was in the sin-bin, but Ireland hung on to make a winning start to 2020 against one of their main Women’s Rugby World Cup qualification rivals.

Adding to Ellen Murphy’s initial penalty, the hosts enjoyed a thunderous two-try start as returning hooker Cliodhna Moloney and Sene Naoupu, on her 36th birthday, both crossed inside the first 15 minutes.

Lisa Thomson struck late to reduce Ireland’s lead to 13-7 by the break, and just when the Scots were poised to score again, 18-year-old Ballinasloe flyer Parsons pounced to run almost the length of the pitch and give her side just enough of a cushion to see out the result.

While disappointed not to build on an excellent opening quarter of hour, Ireland had to cope with the losses of Moloney to injury and captain Ciara Griffin to illness. A shaky scrum and a high penalty count will be areas to focus on ahead of next weekend’s visit of Wales.

There were positive early signs for Ireland as Moloney’s turnover penalty launched them forward. They created space on the right where Lindsay Peat had a try ruled out for a double movement, but out-half Murphy slotted over her only penalty attempt of the day just moments later.

The hosts quickly moved eight points ahead, stretching the Scottish defence on both wings with young winger Parsons linking neatly with Naoupu. With possession crisply moved back out to the right, Moloney dummied inside Megan Gaffney and took two defenders with her over the line on a barnstorming 25-metre run-in.

After the touchline conversion from Murphy faded short, Ireland continued to build impressive momentum with ball in hand. Their improved variety of passing, angles of running and width saw player-of-the-match Edel McMahon and Michelle Claffey make breaks before Naoupu nipped over for another unconverted try out wide.

Tighthead Linda Djougang was to the fore, catching the eye with her carrying, offloading and clearing out, yet Scotland’s well-drilled maul worked them down the pitch with a couple of penalties. Aoife McDermott forced a lineout error to lift the pressure.

However, as Ireland absorbed the permanent loss of Moloney to a head injury, Scotland had the field position to score following a scrum penalty won against the head and further Irish indiscipline. Griffin and McDermott stemmed the tide with a couple of lineout steals.

Aoife Doyle was pulled back for a forward pass as the Irish attack clicked again, yet the Scots, who are now marshalled by former Ireland coach Philip Doyle, responded with a try just before half-time. They targeted the scrum once more, earning a penalty and Thomson broke through Murphy’s tackle to touch down beside the posts.

Griffin’s departure brought on 19-year-old Dorothy Wall for her Ireland debut, with fellow Six Nations newcomer Victoria Dabanovich-O’Mahony already warming to the task up front. Lauren Delany’s defence-slashing run saw Ireland open up the second half in good stead.

The girls in green survived a surging run from Hannah Smith, as Doyle came up with a crucial interception, and Anna Caplice soon thwarted Scotland with her breakdown work. Back rowers Caplice and McMahon combined to take the home side back up to halfway, only for Murphy to get isolated a few phases later.

As the pacy Gaffney and Chloe Rollie began to get in behind the Irish defence, the green jerseys scrambled well enough to force mistakes. Wall typified Ireland’s tenacious tackling close to their own try-line, and replacement Lyons also forced a knock-on as powerful Scottish number 8 Jade Konkel attempted to burrow over.

The Konkel-inspired Scots continued to chip away and when an overlap appeared on the right, Parsons crucially rushed up to intercept Sarah Law’s pass just as Rollie was destined to score. The Leaving Cert student burst out of her own 22 and could not be caught despite Gaffney’s determined chase.

With Murphy receiving treatment, replacement Nicole Cronin attempted the left-sided conversion which fell short. Scotland came storming back right into try-scoring range, and repeated team penalties led to prop Lyons seeing yellow in the 73rd minute for an apparent high tackle.

Konkel had a couple of bites off a five-metre scrum before Wassell was released to go over near the left corner. Hooker Lana Skeldon’s terrific conversion made it a four-point game, but 14-woman Ireland survived a frantic finish despite leaking another scrum penalty.

TIME LINE: 4 minutes – Ireland penalty: Ellen Murphy – 3-0; 9 mins – Ireland try: Cliodhna Moloney – 8-0; conversion: missed by Ellen Murphy – 8-0; 14 mins – Ireland try: Sene Naoupu – 13-0; conversion: missed by Ellen Murphy – 13-0; 40+2 mins – Scotland try: Lisa Thomson – 13-5; conversion: Helen Nelson – 13-7; Half-time – Ireland 13 Scotland 7; 66 mins – Ireland try: Beibhinn Parsons – 18-7; conversion: missed by Nicole Cronin – 18-7; 73 mins – Ireland yellow card: Leah Lyons; 75 mins – Scotland try: Emma Wassell – 18-12; conversion: Lana Skeldon – 18-14; Full-time – Ireland 18 Scotland 14

IRELAND WOMEN: Lauren Delany (Firwood Waterloo Ladies/IQ Rugby); Aoife Doyle (Railway Union/Munster), Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Michelle Claffey (Blackrock/Leinster), Beibhinn Parsons (Ballinasloe/Connacht); Ellen Murphy (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby), Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere/Ulster); Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Cliodhna Moloney (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Old Belvedere/Connacht), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt), Edel McMahon (Wasps/Connacht/IQ Rugby), Anna Caplice (Harlequins/IQ Rugby).

Replacements used: Victoria Dabanovich-O’Mahony (Old Belvedere/Leinster) for Moloney (26 mins), Dorothy Wall (Railway Union/Munster) for Griffin (half-time), Leah Lyons (Harlequins/IQ Rugby) for Djougang (54), Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemians/Munster) for Dane (56), Laura Feely (Galwegians/Connacht) for Peat (59), Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/Leinster) for McDermott, Claire Keohane (Railway Union/Munster) for Murphy (both 68), Djougang for McMahon (74). Not used: Laura Sheehan (UL Bohemians/Munster).

SCOTLAND WOMEN: Chloe Rollie (Harlequins); Rhona Lloyd (Loughborough Lightning), Hannah Smith (Watsonians), Lisa Thomson (Darlington Mowden Park), Megan Gaffney (Watsonians); Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning), Mairi McDonald (Hillhead Jordanhill); Leah Bartlett (Loughborough Lightning), Lana Skeldon (Darlington Mowden Park), Mairi Forsyth (Corstorphine Cougars), Emma Wassell (Corstorphine Cougars), Sarah Bonar (Loughborough Lightning), Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning) (capt), Rachel McLachlan (Darlington Mowden Park), Jade Konkel (Harlequins).

Replacements used: Sarah Law (Darlington Mowden Park) for Nelson (50 mins), Siobhan Cattigan (Stirling County) for McLachlan (57), Lisa Cockburn (Darlington Mowden Park) for Bartlett (61), Louise McMillan (Hillhead Jordanhill) for Malcolm (68), Evie Tonkin (Darlington Mowden Park) for Gaffney (70), Molly Wright (Watsonians) for Konkel (76). Not used: Panashe Muzambe (Edinburgh University/Watsonians), Alex Wallace (Harrogate RFC).

Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (France)