Bronze medal match
Ireland 17
Kazakhstan 5
Aoife Doyle recorded a first-half brace as Ireland brought their journey through the two-day rugby festival to a satisfactory conclusion.
Ireland were eager to bounce back from their semi-final defeat to Russia, and inside the opening 60 seconds the excellent Amee Leigh Murphy-Crowe broke free for a try on the right-wing.
Skipper Lucy Mulhall was off-target from her first conversion of the game, but after receiving a short off-load from Megan Williams in the fourth-minute, Doyle crossed over the Kazakhstan line in clinical fashion.
Mulhall’s bonus kick was successful on this occasion, and although they leaked a try to Kazakhstan’s Alina Askerova, a second score in stoppage-time from the lively Doyle ensured that Ireland were 12 points to the good (17-5) heading into the interval period.
Kazakhstan’s progression to the Championship semi-final – where they were eventually defeated 28-0 by Spain – was an indication of the quality within the squad, though, and they enjoyed a sustained spell of possession inside the Irish 22 after the restart.
The hosts largely held firm during this juncture, however, and with Niamh Briggs entering the fray for the final five minutes of the action, they were aiming to thwart an attempted late surge by Kazakhstan.
John Phelan’s challengers did their best to claim a late consolation, but when Doyle kicked the ball out of play at the end of the proceedings, Ireland’s place in next season’s World Seven Series was secured.
Spain claimed the big prize of the day, beating Russia 19 – 12 in the final to seal their Olympic place.
Scorers
Ireland
Tries: Amee Leigh Murphy-Crowe, Aoife Doyle (2).
Conversion: Lucy Mulhall.
Kazakhstan:
Try: Alina Askerova.
IRELAND: Audrey O’Flynn, Megan Williams, Ashleigh Baxter, Amee Leigh Murphy-Crowe, Aoife Doyle, Lucy Mulhall.
Replacements: Niamh Briggs, Nicole Cronin, Kim Flood, Louise Galvin, Alison Miller.
KAZAKHSTAN: Kundyzay Baktybayeva, Balzhan Koishybayeva, Symbat Zhamankulova, Nigora Nurmatova, Alina Askerova, Anna Yakovleva (Captain), Svetlana Klyuchnikova.
Replacements: Veronika Stepanyuga, Maria Grishina, Aigerym Daurembayeva, Olessya Teryayeva, Aigerim Akymbekova.
Referee: Alhambra Nievas (Spain).