Ireland have to work hard for quarter final spot

Ireland 43, Spain 27

IRELAND were hot favourites going into today’s Women’s World Cup second pool game against Spain and they didn’t disappoint. Full marks to Spain, who put on a huge amount of effort in this very entertaining clash but, despite being level 12-12 after 28 minutes, the green and whites were always capable of pulling away.

Ireland looked confident in the early stages, Dannagh O’Brien going over after seven minutes and also adding the conversion and it was 12-0 after 17 minutes when Amee-Leigh Costigan touched down far out, O’Brien missing the coversion. Spain always looked threatening going forward and Claudia Perez touched down to get her side on the scoreboard, Amalia Argudo missing the conversion. She should have been allowed to take the kick again because an Ireland player charged out too soon, but the referee did not give the re-take.

Spain continued to move forward and they levelled the score on 28 minutes after some continuous drives from the pack resulted in Ana Peralta touching down and this time Ana Peralta split the posts with the conversion. Ireland needed a score at that stage,after Dannagh O’Brien’s penalty kick hit the post. They finished well with tries coming from on Eve Higgins and Anna McGann to go in at the break with a 24-12 lead.

The second half started with Spain going in search of early scores and they cut the lead with a try from Claudia Pena but two tries from Grace Moore and another touchdown from Anna McGann, ensured the victory.

Ireland: Stacey Flood; Anna McGann, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Costigan; Dannah O’Brien, Molly Scuffil-McCabe; Ellena Perry, Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Linda Djougang; Eimear Corri-Fallon, Sam Monaghan (co-captain); Fiona Tuite, Claire Boles, Grace Moore.
Replacements: Neve Jones, Siobhán McCarthy, Sadhbh McGrath, Ruth Campbell, Brittany Hogan, Emily Lane, Enya Breen, Nancy McGillivray.
Spain: Ana Peraltao; Claudia Perez, Claudia Pena, Claudia Cano, Clara Piquero; Zahia Perez, Anne Fernandez de Corres; Gemma Silva, Marieta Roman, Eider Garcia; Lourdes Alameda (capt), Elena Martinez; Lia Pineiro, Ana Peralta, Valentina Perez.
Replacements: Cristina Blanco, Laura Delgado, Mireia de Andres, Anna Puig, Monica Castelo, Nerea Garcia, Bingbing Vergara, Lea Ducher.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login