England 22-5 Ireland
England made it three Six Nations wins out of three with a hard fought victory over Ireland at Esher RFC, despite conceding the first points of their campaign.
The reigning champions came out all guns blazing, as they looked to keep up the form that has swept them past both Wales and Italy, and went 12-0 up within the first ten minutes.
Maggie Alphonsi powered over the line to score England’s first try after just four minutes and soon after Emily Scarratt finished off a good move to grab her second of the tournament.
Worcester’s Heather Fisher did well to turn over possession in England’s favour and Scarratt weaved her way through the Irish defence with ease.
Having missed a difficult first conversion, Katy McLean then put the hosts further in front with her second. Vice-captain McLean then went on to miss a penalty before the half time interval and failed with two more conversion attempts.
With the game in danger of turning into a rout, Ireland woke up and pegged England back inside their 22-metre area with a succession of penalties.
The visitors resisted any urge to settle for three penalty points, instead choosing to pile the pressure onto England’s defence.
The pressure finally paid off after 18 minutes when Kate O’Loughlin became the first player to breach England’s defence in the competition.
Aside from McLean’s failed penalty attempt, neither side looked like troubling the scorers again intil midway through the second period.
Full back Claire Allan then added a try of her own as she collected a pass from Amy Turner before beating two Irish defenders and touching down.
With Ireland desperately trying to find a way back into the game, Turner broke to finish off the game and keep England’s grand slam hopes alive.
Scarratt, who claimed her 14th try in just 16 England appearances, was happy with the team’s battling victory.
“Playing Ireland was always going to be a tough game, they are a really good nation and in these conditions it is always going to be difficult,” she said.
“I think we played really well today. We battled it out and got the result at the end of it.”
England: Fiona Pocock, Katherine Merchant, Emily Scarratt, Alice Richardson, Michaela Staniford, Katy Mclean, La Toya Mason, Rochelle Clark, Amy Garnett, Sophie Hemming, Tamara Taylor, Joanna McGilchrist, Heather Fisher, Margaret Alphonsi, Catherine Spencer (capt). Replacements: Samantha Reeve, Claire Purdy, Rebecca Essex, Jane Leonard, Amy Turner, Rachael Burford, Claire Allan.
Ireland: Niamh Briggs, Nora Stapleton, Joanne O'Sullivan, Shannon Houston, Amy Davis, Helen Brosnan, Tania Rosser; Fiona Coghlan (capt), Chris Fanning, Lauren Day, Kate O'Loughlin, Marie Louise Reilly, Orla Brennan, Claire Molloy, Joy Neville. Replacements: Gillian Bourke, Emer McManamly, Louise Austin, Carol Staunton, Louise Beamish, Grace Davitt, Alison Miller.
By David Brenchley
