Ireland v Scotland

Scotland ended their 2022 TikTok Women's Six Nations campaign with a tough defeat against Ireland, as the hosts clinched victory in the dying moments of the game [15-14].

It didn’t take long for Scotland to initiate the scoring as a series of pick and goes from the pack provided the perfect platform for Evie Gallagher to crash over the whitewash [0-5].

Ireland rallied as several breaks and prolonged spells of possession lifted the home crowd for a concerted period of pressure.

Despite the best efforts from the Scotland defence, Ireland had their first opportunity to put points on the 15^th minute as the visitors were penalised for not rolling away.

Hannah O’Connor slotted through the penalty attempt from 40m out as the visitors closed-in on Scotland’s early lead [3-5].

As the rain poured down at Kingspan Stadium, the conditions proved difficult for both sides, with a number of errors being made.

It was a frantic closing ten minutes in the first-half, as both sides were eager to get back on the scoreboard.

Although the visitors were able to enjoy a brief period of sustained pressure, they were unable to capitalise as they relinquished possession inside the 22m line.

Ireland were soon on the move again as Scotland were penalised for crossing, giving the hosts the opportunity to set-up an attacking line-out 5m from the line.

Following a well-taken line-out, Ireland were able to take the lead in the game as Neve Jones dotted down on the back of a driving maul to score [8-5].

HALF-TIME: Ireland 8-5 Scotland

The hosts kicked-off the proceedings in the second-half, but Scotland showed patience and after some promising progress, the side were awarded a penalty in front of the posts, with Helen Nelson slotting the attempt through with ease [8-8].

With momentum behind them, Scotland were able to continue to build pressure and another opportunity came on the 59^th minute as the visitors were awarded a penalty in front of the posts, with Helen Nelson bringing the side back into the lead [8-11].

Buoyed by the growing tally, Scotland were soon back on the scoreboard following an impressive penalty attempt from 40m out by Helen Nelson [8-14].

In the last ten minutes of the game Ireland had almost all of the possession, Scotland’s defence held strong for 13 minutes with outstanding individual efforts from Emma Orr, Rhona Lloyd and Helen Nelson.

Well into extra time Ireland mounted a last ditch attack, Scotland’s defence coped with what the hosts were throwing at them until Ireland centre Enya Breen crashed over the line and converted her own try for the hosts to win by one-point.

FULL-TIME: Ireland 15-14 Scotland

TikTok Player of the Match: Neve Jones

Scotland: Chloe Rollie (Exeter Chiefs); Rhona Lloyd (Les Lionness Du Stade Bordelais), Lisa Thomson (Sale Sharks), Helen Nelson VICE CAPTAIN (Loughborough Lightning), Shona Campbell (Edinburgh University); Sarah Law (Sale Sharks), Caity Mattinson (Worcester Warriors); Molly Wright (Sale Sharks), Lana Skeldon (Worcester Warriors), Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning), Emma Wassell (Loughborough Lightning), Sarah Bonar (Harlequins) , Rachel Malcolm CAPTAIN (Loughborough Lightning), Rachel McLachlan (Sale Sharks), Evie Gallagher (Stirling County).

Replacements: Jodie Rettie (Saracens), Leah Bartlett (Loughborough Lightning), Katie Dougan (Gloucester Hartpury), Louise McMillan (Hillhead Jordanhill), Eva Donaldson (Edinburgh University), Mairi McDonald (Hillhead Jordanhill), Emma Orr (Biggar), Megan Gaffney (Loughborough Lightning).

Ireland: Vicky Irwin; Aoife Doyle, Sene Naoupu, Enya Breen, Molly Scuffil-McCabe; Nikki Caughey, Kathryn Dane; Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Christy Haney, Nichola Fryday CAPTAIN), Sam Monaghan, Dorothy Wall, Edel McMahon, Hannah O’Connor

Replacements: Emma Hooban, Chloe Pearse, Katie O’Dwyer, Aoife McDermott, Grace Moore, Maeve Og O’Leary, Ailsa Hughes, Michelle Claffey.