By Aaron Clarke
Ireland returned to winning ways thanks to tries in either half from Lindsay Peat and Paula Fitzpatrick saw Ireland run out 14-3 victors at Donnybrook Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
As Ireland looked for a victory to kick start their campaign after back to back defeats against France and England, it was the visitors who started brightest and had Ireland pinned deep inside their own 22 for the opening ten minutes and they could have had the game’s opening try inside the opening three minutes, however, the Irish defence held strong on their own goal-line.
After two consecutive penalties, which Italy failed to penetrate the Irish line, the Italians took the lead on the third occasion after Michela Sillari converted in front of the posts to give the hosts a 3-0 lead.
From the restart, the Irish forwards put their Italian counterparts under pressure and forced a knock on and from the resulting scrum Italy failed to find touch. Kim Flood on her Ireland debut then treated to home faithful to a mesmerising run, however, after several phases Ireland’s Nikki Caughey was found isolated and failed to release possession.
Moments later, Ireland were almost caught napping after several Irish defenders turned their back on to the play, allowing the Italians to take a quick penalty and the ball was shipped wide to Isabella Locatelli, who made huge metres down the right wing. However, Ireland scrambled possession clear despite having a clearance kick blocked down.
As the half wore on, Alison Miller continued to grow into the game on her return from the sevens side and she set about a deep run after a loose pass from Sene Naoupu in the Irish 22. From the Miller run Ireland were awarded a penalty, but like so many other times after some good play handling errors proved their undoing.
With seven minutes remaining in the first half, Ireland got the game’s first try – a block down from Ciara Cooney on the Italy 22, she then raced onto the ball before Ireland went through the phase through Miller who was hauled down ten metres from the line. Ireland recycled possession through Sophie Spence playing at eight before Lindsay Peat on her first Six Nations start powered home from close range.
Niamh Briggs added the extras for Ireland who ended the half on top, but despite their late dominance failed to trouble the Italian line again.
When the side’s emerged from the half-time break Ireland started brightest and Miller was again involved with another powerful run before Spence embarked on one of her trademark runs, however, like the opening 40 minutes their handling errors cost them in key positions.
With a little over an hour on the clock, Ireland thought they had the game’s second try after a good driving maul and some hard running around the side of the ruck, Ireland then went wide before Naoupu was adjudged to have been held up.
Despite Naoupu being adjudged to have not got the ball down – referee Amy Perrett went back for an infringement at the maul and from the resulting lineout Ireland got their second try from a driving maul from five metres out with second-half substitute Paula Fitzpatrick dotted down in the corner. Nora Stapleton added the extras to extend Ireland’s lead to 11 points.
As the visitors’ chances continued to limited in the second-half, they will be disappointed to knock the ball on just outside the Ireland 22 after good play from Manuela Furlan and Ilaria Arrighetti.
With the clock approaching 80 minutes, Ireland’s Flood embarked on a run down the right and she earned her side a penalty just outside the Italians 22.
From the quick penalty, Ireland broke across the field and after several phases they spilled possession at the base of the ruck, however, Italy’s Beatrice Rigoni knocked on during the counter attack when they appeared to have an overlap down the right wing.
Moments after the failed attack by the Italians, Ireland had a huge chance of their own, Flood chose to go alone with a teammate outside, but she was stopped short and Ireland were awarded a penalty before Larissa Muldoon went quickly ,however, the scrum half was stopped short of the Italian line before Claire Molloy attempted to place the ball against the base of the post.
Ireland:
Kim Flood, Liz Burke, Niamh Briggs, Sene Naoupu, Alison Miller, Nikki Caughey, Mary Healy: Lindsay Peat, Cliodhna Moloney, Ailis Egan, Elaine Anthony, Marie Louise Reilly, Ciara Cooney, Ciara Griffin, Sophie Spence
Replacements:
Zoe Grattage, Ruth O’Reilly, Fiona Reidy, Paula Fitzpatrick, Claire Molloy, Larissa Muldoon, Nora Stapleton. Claire McLaughlin
Italy:
Manuela Furlan, Maria Magatti, Maria Grazia Cioffi, Michela Sillari, Sofia Stefan, Beatrice Rigoni, Sara Barattin: Elisa Cucchiella, Lucia Cammarano, Melissa Bettoni, Elisa Pilotti, Alice Trevisan, Michela Este, Isabella Locatelli, Elisa Giordano
Replacements:
Lucia Gai, Gaia Giacomoli, Diletta Nicoletti, Valentina Ruzza, Ilaria Arrighetti, Silvia Folli, Paola Zangirolami, Veronica Madia
Referee: Amy Perrett (ARU)
WSJ Player of the Match: Alison Miller (Ireland)
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