Ireland Rally Falls Short as Wales Gains 7th Place at #WRWC2017

August 25, 2017

Ireland Rally Falls Short as Wales Gains 7th Place at #WRWC2017

Photo: INPHO/Billy Stickland (Wales prop Caryl Thomas scores)

Doug Coil

Ireland played Wales in the Women’s Rugby World Cup seventh place play-off at the Kingspan Stadium on Saturday, August 26.

Ireland went through 16 phases prior to the referee playing a penalty advantage. From the ensuing lineout, Ireland’s captain Paula Fitzpatrick mauled her way in for a try. Nora Stapleton, who earned her 50th cap in the match, added the conversion for a 7-0 lead in the 16th minute.

In the 25th minute, Robyn Wilkins answered back for Wales with a penalty kick. Five minutes later, Caryl Thomas mauled her way off a 5 meter lineout for a try, with Wilkins converting to give Wales a 10-7 lead.

Wales continued the momentum from the first half with a sustained attack. Amy Evans appeared to have the ball touch the line, but a TMO ruled otherwise. Soon after Butchers was held up after a 5 meter scrum. After the resulting 5 meter scrum and a penalty by Ireland, Sioned Harries powered her way in for a try with Wilkins converting.

Wales gathered the restart and Ireland’s Paula Fitzpatrick was penalized and sent to the bin for a high tackle. After a second penalty by Ireland, Wales captain Carys Phillips mauled her way in for a try from a lineout for a 22-7 lead.

It was then Ireland’s time to answer back, but Fitzpatrick was held up. With the forwards pushing ahead, Alisha Butchers was sent to the bin. The penalty by Wales had Ireland’s Lindsay Peat mauling her way in after a lineout. Hannah Tyrrell’s conversion was missed, but Ireland narrowed the score to 22-12.

The ensuing restart was mishandled by Ireland leading to a Wales attack of 13 phases before Shona Powell-Hughes powered over for a try to seemingly seal the match at 27-12.

Ireland went through 11 phases before penalty advantage was played. Ireland spun the ball wide left and Katie Fitzhenry dove over for a try in the corner to narrow the lead to 27-17 with five minutes remaining.

Ireland then attacked again from the restart, but lost the ball forward in Wales territory with numbers on the left.

Ireland used quick hands right with Hannah Tyrrell’s offloading the ball to Eimear Considene to an apparent try in the corner. However, after the TMO, the pass was ruled forward.

Ireland had one more opportunity, but after a penalty elected for a 5 meter scrum with a minute remaining. With the pack moving forward, a Sophie Spence knock on ended this rally.

Wales forwards played outstanding in the set pieces and deserved the 27-17 win to qualify for the next World Cup with their 7th place finish. Wales Sioned Harries was named the Player of the Match.

Ireland v Wales: 1. Lindsay Peat 2. Cliodhna Moloney 3. Ailis Egan 4. Ciara Cooney 5. Marie Louise Reilly 6. Paula Fitzpatrick (C) 7. Ciara Griffin 8. Heather O’Brien 9. Nicole Cronin 10. Nora Stapleton 11. Alison Miller 12. Jeamie Deacon 13. Katie Fitzhenry 14. Eimear Considine 15. Hannah Tyrrell 16. Leah Lyons 17. Ilse van Staden 18. Ciara O’Connor 19. Sophie Spence 20. Ashleigh Baxter 21. Larissa Muldoon 22. Sene Naoupu 23. Mairead Coyne

Wales v Ireland: 1 Caryl Thomas 2 Carys Phillips (c) 3 Amy Evans 4 Siwan Lillicrap 5 Mel Clay 6 Alisha Butchers 7 Rachel Taylor 8 Sioned Harries 9 Keira Bevan 10 Robyn Wilkins 11 Jasmine Joyce 12 Hannah Jones 13 Gemma Rowland 14 Elen Evans 15 Elinor Snowsill 16 Kelsey Jones 17 Gwenllian Pyrs 18 Cerys Hale19 Shona Powell-Hughes 20 Lleucu George 21 Sian Moore 22 India Berbillion 23 Jodie Evans

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