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Ireland work hard for deserved win over Japan

 

Ireland 42, Japan 14:

APART from a sticky moment minutes into the second half, Ireland fully deserved their victory in today’s Women’s World Cup clash. Leading at half time by 28-7, Japan cut the lead to minutes into the second half. They showed their best rugby of the game, bombarded the Ireland try line and Masami Kawamura powered over with Ayasa Otsuka converting to make it 28-14. The score could have been cut to seven points a few minutes later when Japan were on the Ireland try line but an intercept by Fiona Tuite saw the number six run the full lenghth of the pitch. A converted try at that stage could have seen the Irish lead reduced to 28-21, but instead the scoreboard now read Ireland 35-Japan 14. Hardly on the field of play, Enya Breen got over for Ireland’s sixth try, all converted by out-half Dannah O’Brien

Ireland led at half time 28, their tries coming from Leigh Costigan after three minutes followed by a try by Béibhinn Parsons to stretch the lead to 14-0 and a further touchdown by Brittany Hogan, the girls in green to make it 21-0. Japan gave themselves a glimpse of hope when Haruka Hirotsu put her side on the scoreboard after Japanese pressure but Ireland added another try before the break, this time  number six Fiona Tuite finished a thrilling Ireland attack. Dannah O’Brien landed all four of the converesions and Ireland went in un a good position.

In was an entertaining game with Japan determined to bravely keep themselves involved in the action. Ireland showed that they will be a difficult side to beat in this competition and they will be hotly topped to overcome Spain in their next fixture next week.

Ireland: Stacey Flood; Béibhinn Parsons, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Costigan; Dannah O’Brien; Aoibheann Reilly, Niamh O’Dowd, Neve Jones, Linda Djougang; Ruth Campbell, Sam Monaghan (co-captain); Fiona Tuite, Edel McMahon (co-captain), Brittany Hogan.
Replacements: Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Ellena Perry, Sadhbh McGrath, Eimear Corri-Fallon, Grace Moore, Emily Lane, Enya Breen, Anna McGann.
Japan: Sora Nishimura; Misaki Matsumara, Mana Furuta, Haruka Hirotsu, Komachi Imakugi; Ayasa Otsuka, Moe Tsukui; Sachiko Kato, Asuka Kuge, Wako Kitano; Yuna Sato, Otoka Yoshimura; Masami Kawamura, Iroha Nagata (capt), Seina Saito
Replacements: Kotomi Taniguchi, Manami Mine, Nijiho Nagata, Ayana Sakurai, Kyoko Hosokawa, Megumi Abe, Minori Yamamoto, Sakurako Hatada
Referee: Clara Munarini (FIR)
Assistant Referee 1: Precious Pazani (ZIM) Assistant Referee 2: Amelia Luciano (USAR)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR) FPRO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)

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