Ireland claim bonus-point win over Italy

Editor

Ireland hit their stride in the second half to defeat Italy 27-3 at Stadio Tommaso Fattori in the Women's Six Nations on Sunday.

The game got off to a quiet start when the first points were only scored in the 27th minute. Ireland started the scoring when fly-half Nora Stapleton knocked over a penalty.

It looked as though Italy were to remain scoreless going into the second half until winger Michela Sillari collected her side's only points of the match through a penalty.

The second half proved to be a different story though as 50 minutes in, Ireland hooker Leah Lyons barged over the line and placed it on the posts for the try.

Three minutes later Ireland would score again, this time through replacement Sophie Spence who added to her side's tally. Both conversions were added by Stapleton.

Ireland were looking dominant 60 minutes in as they scored their third try when number eight Paula Fitzpatrick used her strength to power through the Italian defence close to the try-line.

Ireland winger Hannah Tyrrell would have the final say when she collected the ball 50 metres out and used her quick feet to evade several Italian defenders to score her side's fourth try and get a crucial bonus point.

The scorers:

For Italy:
Pen:
Sillari

For Ireland:
Tries:
Tyrrell, Lyons, Fitzpatrick, Spence
Cons: Stapleton 2
Pen: Stapleton

Italy: 15 Manuela Furlan, 14 Michela Sillari, 13 Mariagrazia Cioffi, 12 Sofia Stefan, 11 Maria Magatti, 10 Beatrice Rigoni, 9 Sara Barattin (c), 8 Elisa Giordano, 7 Isabellla Locatelli, 6 Lucia Cammarano, 5 Alice Trevisan, 4 Flavia Severin, 3 Lucia Gai, 2 Melissa Bettoni, 1 Elisa Cucchiella
Replacements: 16 Marta Ferrari, 17 Gaia Giacomoli, 18 Michela Este, 19 Elisa Pillotti, 20 Ilaria Arrighetti, 21 Claudia Salvadego, 22 Silvia Folli, 23 Paola Zangirolami

Ireland: 15 Mairead Coyne, 14 Hannah Tyrrell, 13 Jenny Murphy, 12 Sene Naoupu, 11 Alison Miller, 10 Nora Stapleton, 9 Ailsa Hughes, 8 Paula Fitzpatrick (c), 7 Claire Molloy, 6 Ciara Griffin, 5 Marie-Louise Reilly, 4 Elaine Anthony, 3 Ailis Egan, 2 Leah Lyons, 1 Lindsay Peat
Replacements: 16 Jennie Finlay, 17 Ilse Van Staden, 18 Ciara O Connor, 19 Ciara Cooney, 20 Sophie Spence, 21 Mary Healy, 22 Claire McLaughlin, 23 Eimear Considine