IRELAND WOMEN’S RUGBY team will set off for the 2014 World Cup in good spirits having defeated Wales 27-7 in Malahide this afternoon.
Philip Doyle’s charges fell behind to an early Welsh try but struck back quickly and imposed their game on the visitors in the second half. Ireland beat Spain earlier in the month and today’s win should put them in good stead for the World Cup, in France, during August.
With Ireland senior men’s coaches Joe Schmidt and Les Kiss in attendance, as well as Olympic boxing champion Katie Taylor, the hosts gradually settled into their comeback task. It took Ireland 35 minutes to trouble the scoreboard, with Nora Stapleton converting a penalty chance.
The second half was leagues away from Ireland’s slow start. Tania Rosser, making her first start in four years, controlled the attacking flow from scrum-half. Ashleigh Baxter raced clear for a converted try before Fiona Coghlan, her captain, drove over for a second.
Alison Miller registered Ireland’s third as she evaded three Welsh opponents to dive over in the right-hand corner. The final score of the game arrived late in the piece as Ailis Egan jinked by Philippe Tuttiett out wide to score.