RUGBY/WOMEN'S SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP/Wales 15 Ireland 14:TWO TRIES from hooker Gillian Bourke wasn't quite enough for Ireland as they lost by a solitary point to Wales at Cross Keys and recorded their second defeat in the 2011 Six Nations.
The game was only three minutes old when Munster’s Bourke powered over from a close-range lineout for the game’s opening score after Lynne Cantwell had made hard yards through the midfield.
Niamh Briggs had no problems with the conversion from the touchline as Ireland raced into an early lead.
Wales’ response was immediate, though. Elen Evans glided through the visitors defence to score in the hosts’ first visit into the Irish 22. Fullback Amiee Young added the simple conversion and then gave her side the lead with a penalty five minutes later.
Briggs missed a penalty for Ireland midway through the first period and then on the stroke of half-time Wales extended their lead; Adi Taviner touching down after the Irish defence had failed to deal with a kick through from Jenny Davies.
Young missed the conversion but Wales went into the break 15-7 ahead.
It took nearly 30 minutes of second-half action until the next score and it was Bourke who once again crossed the whitewash. The Munster forward crashed over after good work from her pack and Briggs’ conversion brought the scores to within a point.
Ireland threw everything at their opponents in the final 10 but could not find the final score they were looking for and must now regroup for the visit of England next weekend.
WALES: A Young (Bath Ladies), M Evans (UWIC), A Taviner (Neath Athletic) (K Lake 74), E Evans (Dolgellau), C James (Cardiff Quins), E Snowsill (Cardiff Quins) (A Thomas 63), A Day (Cross Keys), J Davies (Waterloo), R Bowden (Cross Keys), C Edwards (Cardiff Quins) (R Taylor 47), S Powell Hughes (Neath Athletic), A Rowlands (Wasps), L Newton (UWIC), S Harries (UWIC), J Kift (Cross Keys). Not used: L Harries (Neath Athletic), C Thomas (Bath Ladies), V Owens (UWIC), L Prosser (Pontyclun).
IRELAND: N Briggs (Munster), N Kavanagh (Munster), L Cantwell (Exiles), G Rea (Munster) (J Shiels 80), M Kelly (Munster) (G Nolan 78), N Stapleton (Leinster), A Davis (Leinster) (L Muldoon 58), F Coghlan (Leinster, capt), G Bourke (Munster), L Day (Ulster) (A Egan 58), L Guest (Munster), M Reilly (Leinster), C Staunton (Connacht) (D O’Brien 63), C Molloy (Connacht), J Neville (Munster). Not used: S Kennedy (Ulster), H O’Brien (Munster).
Referee: Federica Guerzoni (Italy)
