O’Brien powers over to break Welsh resistance

Ireland 14 Wales 6

DAIRE WALSH – 08 FEBRUARY 2014

It was less emphatic than their opening-day victory against Scotland, but a 61st-minute try from the influential Heather O’Brien nevertheless kept Ireland’s hopes of recording back-to-back Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam titles very much alive in a blustery Ashbourne.

Ireland had achieved a record-breaking 59-0 success over the Tartan Army in the same venue a week ago, but right from the word go at Milltown House, it was clear that this was going to be a much tougher assignment for Philip Doyle’s side.

Having weathered an early Irish storm quite impressively, Waleseventually broke the deadlock with 17 minutes gone on the clock courtesy of a close-range penalty which was knocked over from an awkward angle on the left by Llandaff North centre Robyn Wilkins.

PLATFORM

Another successful three-pointer by the reliable No 13 eight minutes later helped the visitors to develop a six-point platform – and had the Ireland camp starting to sweat.

Despite enjoying a promising start to the proceedings, Ireland were struggling to execute their customary brand of attacking rugby in the wet and windy conditions, but they finally managed to reap some form of reward for their endeavours thanks to an expertly-converted 39th-minute place-kick by returning full-back Niamh Briggs.

This ensured that the Green Army’s deficit was a meagre three points (6-3) at the midway point.

With Briggs cancelling out the Welsh lead 10 minutes after the restart with a second routine penalty following a high tackle by Lowri Harries on Richmond’s Lynne Cantwell, Ireland were ready to turn the tie on its head.

The pivotal moment of the game arrived just past the hour mark, when a scrum close to the Welsh line provided Ireland with an ideal platform, andMunster No 8 O’Brien displayed great initiative and desire to gather the loose possession, before driving over forcefully in the right corner.

UL Bohs star Briggs was wide of the mark with a tricky conversion kick, but with Wales showing little sign of attacking intent in the second period, Ireland were never in danger of letting their lead slip.

The Welsh never stopped battling, but the hosts looked in complete control now and when Briggs superbly split the posts from the 22m line deep into stoppage-time, their seventh consecutive Six Nations victory was secured – and dreams of retaining their crown were kept alive.

IRELAND WOMEN – N Briggs; H Casey (A Baxter 69), L Cantwell, J Murphy, A Miller; N Stapleton, L Muldoon; F Coghlan, SL Kennedy (G Bourke 56), A Egan; S Spence, ML Reilly; S Fleming, C Molloy, H O’Brien.

WALES WOMEN – D Hywel; E Evans, R Wilkins, R de Filippo, P Tuttiett (Laurie Harries 73); E Snowsill, A Day (S Moore 77); M York (J Davies 50), Lowri Harries (C Phillips 77), C Edwards; J Hawkins, S Powell Hughes; C Nicholas (S Harries 50), N Davies, R Taylor (S Williams 73).

REF – N Inwood (New Zealand).