Irish Women off to winning start
Ireland got their 2010 6 Nations campaign off to a flying start today with a 22-5 win over Italy. By Ciara Ní Ghabhann
Ireland dominated the lineout, breakdown and scrum, but all were closely contested by the Italians, with the exception of lineouts. Poor throwing by the Italian hooker meant Ireland won most lineouts.
A drop goal from Ireland’s fullback Niamh Briggs after just 11 minutes brought Ireland to 3-0, but it would be a long time before more points were scored, with good defence from the Italian side. Ireland failed to capitalise on some very good breaks from strong players such as Niamh Briggs and winger Alison Miller, with simple mistakes letting them down .
Minutes before the half-time whistle, Number 8 Joy Neville ran in a try, which Niamh Briggs failed to convert.
It would be Neville who scored Ireland’s second try, just 8 minutes into the second half. With a conversion from Niamh Briggs, the score was brought to 15-0.
At 22 minutes Connacht’s Miller ran in the final Irish try, with another successful conversion, and it looked like Ireland were going to win without
conceding a point.
Italy missed the few penalties Ireland conceded, and ran in what could have been two tries in the first half, but met a tough Irish defence just inches short of the line.
The Italian players displayed wonderful resilience. Giuliana Campanella, number 5, argued with her physiotherapist and doctor to be allowed to continue playing, despite appearing to be in pain from a shoulder injury. Prop Lucia Gai received attention from both the Italian and Irish doctors, but argued to stay playing, no doubt wanting to impress in her 6 Nations debut.
Passion didn’t convert to points, with Italy only scoring a try in the closing minutes of the game, and missing the conversion, bringing the final score to 22-5 to Ireland. Italy defended well, but this is a very strong Ireland team, and this year’s 6 Nations should be a tightly-fought contest.
IRELAND WOMEN: Niamh Briggs (Clonmel/Munster); Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Grace Davitt (Blackrock/Leinster), Shannon Houston (Blackrock/Leinster), Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht); Joanne O’Sullivan (Richmond/Exile), Tania Rosser (Blackrock/Leinster); Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) (capt), Chris Fanning (Highfield/Munster), Emer McManamly (Blackrock/Leinster), Kate O’Loughlin (Clonmel/Munster), Marie Louise Reilly (Navan/Leinster), Carol Staunton (Galwegians/Connacht), Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht), Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster).
Replacements: Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster), Lauren Day (Cooke/Ulster), Caroline Mahon (UL Bohemians/Leinster), Louise Austin (UL Bohemians/Munster), Louise Beamish (UL Bohemians/Munster), Helen Brosnan (Highfield/Munster), Eliza Downey (Cooke/Ulster).
ITALY WOMEN: Manuela Furlan (Benetton Treviso); Sara Barattin (Casale), Maria Grazia Cioffi (Benevento), Paola Zangirolami (Sitam Riviera Del Brenta) (capt), Maria Diletta Veronese (Valsugana Padova); Michela Tondinelli (Benetton Treviso), Valentina Schiavon (Sitam Riviera Del Brenta); Lucia Gai (Sitam Rivera Del Brenta), Michela Este (Benetton Treviso), Elisa Cucchiella (Red&Blu), Sara Pettinelli (Red&Blu), Flavia Severin (Benetton Treviso), Giuliana Campanella (Red&Blu), Silvia Gaudino (Monza 1949), Daniela Gini (Red&Blu).
Replacements: Silvia Peron (Sitam Riviera Del Brenta), Germana Raponi (Red&Blu), Alice Trevisan (Sitam Riviera Del Brenta), Cecilia Zublena (Sassenage Isere), Elisa Rochas (Monza 1949), Chiara Buongiorno (Monza 1949), Valentina Virgili (Monza 1949).
