The Hive, Edinburgh
Somehow the Scots salvaged a win that they hardly deserved, and could move into the break before the World Cup with confidence restored.
For the Irish this was a reverse they could not have expected. At least it was by a hair’s breadth. They have plenty still going for them.
For much of the game they were on top, looking far more fluent than their hosts. The coaching staff will concentrate on correcting the errors that prevented a likely looking away win.
Dannah O’Brien cleared an early ball far into the other half to maintain Irish policy. Scotland responded with a set move: Emma Orr straightening the line, but she couldn’t keep hold of the ball.
More possession was coughed up. Despite Ruth Campbell’s telling counter-break, once again we saw the referee’s ‘held up’ signal. O’Brien sent another searcher into the home 22 to keep the hosts far from their target. Both sides were making numerous handling errors.
Inside the opening five minutes Rachel Malcolm started her ref. chats.
Now Molly Scuffil-McCabe spotted a door ajar, accelerated and fed Amee-Leigh Costigan who
scored on the left. O’Brien converted well. 0-7
Next it was Lana Skeldon’s turn to chat to Natarsha Ganley.
A box-kick by MSM didn’t work; it went straight to Lisa Thomson whose return kick was knocked into touch by Aoife Corey on debut.
Niamh O’Dowd returned from an HIA – a relief; but at same moment Dorothy Wall, very prominent till now, went down far from the ball – an ankle? She was helped to the trolley, her left leg off the ground. Next it was an HIA for Edel McMahon; Jane Clohessy debuted.
Over the first quarter Scotland show few signs of improvement, too many moves breaking down. At a breakdown Evie Gallagher won a fine penalty that proved decisive. Scotland drove and it was
another try for Skeldon, her nineteenth. 5-7
On the half-hour Aoife Dalton broke through, but her kick just ran into touch in-goal. As she
received treatment, Malcolm enjoyed another chat.
When Costigan, Ireland’s replacement captain, had her word with the ref, I made that score around 2-1 to the home team.
Ireland were prospering, but suffered another ‘held up’ decision; Elliann Clarke inserted herself under Linda Djougang. The green jerseys were showing far more fluency, with varied lines of running. Scotland had barely left their half since their try.
As Lisa Thomson prepared to drop out, the TMO intervened to propose a penalty against her! We now had a third HIA check, on Enya Breen. Smart gumshields put in for overtime pay.
Astonishingly we had one more repeat. Djougang drove over with support, but couldn’t ground the ball. It was Thomson, making amends.
High drama came as the kettle was boiling. Sarah Bonar halted another Irish raid with an interception and set off. She kicked ahead before she was overhauled, then Rhona Lloyd threatened a score. But Eve Higgins, just on, intervened in the nick of time, and O’Brien cleared. For the first time she failed to find safety – an expensive mistake.
Scotland built an attack, blown along by the roars of the crowd. As the ball moved wide right, Orr spotted an inviting gap on the inside, and her strength took her over the line.
Half-time 12-7
Ireland had been on top in most phases, but Scotland were leading: another lesson in game management.
There was inexperience in Irish ranks: Vicky Elmes Kinlan and Aoife Corey were making their first 6N starts. The pair found themselves under a kick; VEK dropped it and Corey did well not to play it off-side. Scott Bemand was looking to the future.
It was all Ireland now. Costigan surprised by dipping inside instead of stepping outside; she was held. But Ireland mounted a drive over the line. Ganley decided the scorer was held up, awarding Ireland a 5-metre penalty instead. At once the TMO showed her a clear grounding; Djougang at last had her try. Amid boos Ganley raised her arm. Then the TMO came back for another check. Ah! Not for the try, but for a Rhona Lloyd tackle on Costigan earlier. She was shown yellow, yet Rachel Malcolm still argued the toss with the ref, who crossed her arms. It was Lloyd who was worse hurt, so she left for an HIA.
Scott had to be sacrificed.
O’Brien missed this conversion. 12-12
Lloyd’s card remained yellow; there was mitigation.
As the game passed the 3/4 mark, Rollie managed a wonderful back-door off-load out of a heavy tackle to put Rachel McLachlan clear. 19-12
Ireland responded strongly. A well-formed pack drive led to a thrust by Higgins who was just stopped in time. But Helen Nelson had placed a hand where it shouldn’t have been, and she was off to the bin for ten minutes. By the clock, that would leave her 60 seconds more playing time.
From the penalty Aoife Dalton couldn’t quite make her mind up, pass or hold? She held, and fortunately for her a follow-up snipe by Emily Lane took her right to the line. (19-19) All to play for.
Fortunes swung this way, then that. A Scottish line-out gave the ball away, but the Irish couldn’t profit.
A second near the same spot was accurate and the hosts pressed..
Into the final minute and Scotland found themselves threatening the Irish line. A driving maul broke up, but they kept their hands on the ball. They spread it wide left, and once more a bounce pass was cruel to the defenders. Lucia Scott scooped it up and fed Fran McGhie, who scored the decider in a dramatic finish. It was 81 minutes and 15 seconds when Nelson’s kick sailed over.
Ireland were disconsolate at losing a game they knew should have been theirs; their sole reward was a losing bonus-point. It kept them in third place for the second year running.
Who could imagine that the following game 400 miles away would claim an even tenser finish?
Result: Scotland 26 Ireland 19
Player of the Match: Rachel McLachlan
Referee: Natarsha Ganley (NZR)
Attendance: 6,375
Teams:
Scotland
1 Leah Bartlett 2 Lana Skeldon 3 Elliann Clarke 4 Jade Konkel 5 Sarah Bonar 6 Rachel Malcolm (captain) 7 Rachel McLachlan 8 Evie Gallagher 9 Leia Brebner-Holden 10 Helen Nelson 11 Francesca McGhie 12 Lisa Thomson 13 Emma Orr 14 Rhona Lloyd 15 Chloe Rollie
16 Elis Martin 17 Anne Young 18 Molly Poolman 19 Becky Boyd 20 Gemma Bell 21 Rhea Clarke 22 Evie Wills 23 Lucia Scott
Ireland
1 Niamh O’Dowd 2 Neve Jones 3 Linda Djougang 4 Ruth Campbell 5 Fiona Tuite 6 Dorothy Wall 7 Edel McMahon 8 Brittany Hogan 9 Molly Scuffil-McCabe 10 Dannah O’Brien 11 Amee-Leigh Costigan 12 Enya Breen 13 Aoife Dalton 14 Vicky Elmes Kinlan 15 *Aoife Corey
16 Cliodhna Moloney 17 Sadhbh McGrath 18 Christy Haney 19 *Jane Clohessy 20 Claire Boles 21 Emily Lane 22 Eve Higgins 23 Stacey Flood
*uncapped
Afterthoughts
Gary Heatly, that devoted reporter on all things Scottish sport, reckoned everyone was fit for the last round, a most unusual feature. In the event Alex Stewart didn’t make the squad. Nor could Bryan Easson find room for Caity Mattinson, younger sister Rhea Clarke receiving her second chance of a cap instead. Let’s call it building for the future.
The Scots wouldn’t admit it, but they must have been relieved to discover that a knee injury prevented Aoife Wafer from joining the throng. Such a pity that one of the great players of this tournament couldn’t complete her job; but there’s a World Cup to come.
Jade Konkel found herself occupying a third position this campaign. Easson had to retain Gallagher, so he reckoned the second row her only option.
Both sides won two matches, but Ireland gained two extra bonus-points to ensure another third place.
