Women’s: Irish Lose To Three-Try Eagles

…Leinster and Ireland scrum half Tania Rosser – the only Irish scorer at Thomond Park on Wednesday night…

The Ireland Women’s side lost 23-5 in their first ever meeting with the USA on Wednesday night. Philip Doyle’s charges had led 5-3 at half-time in the Thomond Park encounter.

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY: Wednesday, January 25

IRELAND 5 UNITED STATES 23, Thomond Park

Scorers: Ireland: Try: Tania Rosser

USA: Tries: Laura Cabrera 2, Patty Jervey; Con: Pam Kosanke; Pens: Kosanke 2

On 21 minutes, the Irish made the initial breakthrough as following a break off the back off the scrum by number 8 Joy Neville, Blackrock and Leinster scrum half Tania Rosser cantered through a couple of tackles to score in the right corner.

Unfortunately the conversion was missed, and the Americans, in their second fixture of a three-match tour, closed up the gap to two points with a penalty from centre Pam Kosanke.

New Zealand-born Rosser continued to pose a threat off the fringes in the second half, but gradually the visitors’ greater power in the pack saw them prevail.

Flanker Orla Brennan did go close to adding a second Irish try, four minutes into the second half, but she was just held up short.

The US scored four times in the space of ten minutes to overwhelm the home side – Kosanke added her second penalty, then right winger Laura Cabrera crossed in the left corner after a set-up by full-back Heather Hale.

A quick turnover allowed Kosanke’s midfield partner Patty Jervey touch down and the elusive Cabrera grabbed her second try soon after, collecting a lucky bounce in the Irish 22. Kosanke’s conversion put the visitors 23-5 in front.

Far from wilting, the Irish continued to press for their own second try – Galwegians flyer Nuala Ni Chadhain came closest, but the US defence held her out.

Next up for coach Doyle, who handed Highfield prop Marie Barrett and UL Bohs lock Caroline Mahon their Test debuts at Thomond Park, and Ireland is their Six Nations opener against Spain at Donnybrook on Saturday, February 4 (kick-off 5.00pm).

The US, who lock horns with Ireland again on September 4 at the Rugby World Cup in Edmonton, Canada, take on England ‘A’ in their final tour match on Sunday. They beat Scotland 13-6 last weekend.

Ireland: Joanne O’Sullivan (Lichfield); Nuala Ni Chadhain (Galwegians), Lynne Cantwell (Trojans), Patrique Kelly (UL Bohemians), Suzanne Fleming (Cooke); Sarah Jane Belton (UL Bohemians) (captain), Tania Rosser (Blackrock); Fiona Coughlan (UL Bohemians) (vice-captain), Jean Lonergan(Shannon), Marie Barrett (Highfield), Caroline Mahon (UL Bohemians), Germaine Healy (Blackrock), Orla Brennan (Blackrock), Rachel Boyd (Cooke), Joy Neville (Shannon).

Replacements used: Amanda Greensmith (Shannon) for O’Sullivan, Sinead Ryan (Navan) for Mahon (both 55 mins), Grace Davitt (Blackrock) for Fleming, Louise Beamish (UL Bohemians) for Rosser (both 60).

USA: Heather Hale (Atlanta); Laura Cabrera (Berkeley All Blues), Patty Jervey (Atlanta), Pam Kosanke (Chicago North Shore), Tyshawn Henry (New York); Annie Collier (New York), Mari Wallace (Berkeley All Blues); Kirsten Aerts (Atlanta), Jen Joyce (Austin), Jen Crouse (Berkeley All Blues), Suzanna Barth (Colorado), Laura McDonald (Minnesota), Tina Nesberg (Berkeley All Blues), Lee Knight (New York).

Replacements used: Danielle Miller (Twin Cities Amazons) for Aerts (half-time), Meredith Ottens (Austin) for Henry, Kate Cox (Atlanta) for Barth, Kristin Baja (New York) for Collier (all 50).

Referee: Leo Colgan (Munster)