WOMEN'S WORLD CUP: USA 12 Ireland 22:IRELAND ARE back in contention for a place in the World Cup semi-finals after a thoroughly deserved bonus-point victory at Surrey Sports Park yesterday afternoon.
A brace of tries from Joy Neville, who was winning her 50th cap, and efforts from fullback Niamh Briggs and scrumhalf Tania Rosser, gave Philip Doyle’s side the perfect fillip after Friday’s heavy defeat by hosts England.
Neville did not take long to make her mark with a sixth-minute try after promising early breaks from Briggs and Jo O’Sullivan.
But the Women’s Eagles responded well and even took the lead temporally after prop Jamie Burke crashed over under the posts.
Inside centre Mel Kanuk easily converted to make the score 7-5 in favour of USA.
In a competitive match of end-to-end action that saw USA lose prop Farrah Douglas to a 32-minute sinbinning, Ireland regained the lead just before half-time.
From a loose ball Briggs weaved her way from 40 metres to touch down in the right-hand corner and make the score 10-7 at the interval.
An inspired Ireland returned determined to finish the job off, beginning with a well-worked second try for Neville from a lineout five minutes into the second half.
Ireland clinched a bonus point when Rosser’s quick tap caught the Women’s Eagles off guard to touch down. With Niamh Briggs converting, Ireland were enjoying a comfortable 22-7 lead after 53 minutes.
Despite some strong Irish defence, USA replacement Nathalie Marchino finally broke through, before the ball was worked out to the right wing where Vanesa McGee used her pace to score in the 75th minute. They failed to make the conversion.
Afterwards, a jubilant Doyle said: “Ireland today were outstanding from the kick-off, really. Literately in the first two minutes we were on America’s line and we just stuck with it.
“We stuck to our tactics in the first half, and then, using the wind in the second half, absolutely outstanding, couldn’t have asked for anything better from one to 22.”
Meanwhile, 50-cap, double-try-scorer Neville said: “No, absolutely not, there is no better way to mark my 50th Test, I’m very happy with that.
“But overall I’m so happy with the performance the team put in. It wasn’t about my 50th cap today, it was putting in the effort, today was going to be the hardest game of the tournament and I’m just happy to say we came through. We are in a good position now.”
IRELAND: Niamh Briggs; Amy Davis (Maireád Kelly, 64 mins), Jo O'Sullivan, Lynn Cantwell, Nora Stapleton; Helen Brosnan (Shannon Houston, 68 mins), Tania Rosser (Louise Beamish, 74 mins); Fiona Coughlan (capt), Gillian Bourke, Louise Austin (Chris Fanning, 64 mins); Kate O'Loughlin, Marie Louise Reilly (Caroline Mahon, 64 mins), Orla Brennan (Sinead Ryan, 71), Claire Molloy, Joy Nevin.
USA: Ashley English (capt); Vanesa McGee, Lynelle Kugler, Mel Kanuk, Victoria Follayan (Natalie Marchino, 54 mins); Christy Ringgenberg, Claudia Knudsen-Braymer; Farrah Douglas, Maurin Wallace, Jamie Burke (Rachel Reddick, 50 mins), Beckett Royce (Sharon Blaney, 46 mins); Mel Denham (Phadra Knight, 64 mins), Kitt Wagner, Blair Groefsema.
Referee: Sabastian Minery (France).
Tries: Burke, Magee Con: Kanuk
