The Ireland Women (sponsored by TritonLake) struggled on the final day of the HSBC Canada Sevens, finishing eighth after losing to hosts Canada (24-12) and Great Britain (25-5).
It means Britain and fifth place finishers Fiji have closed the gap in the overall World Series standings, but Ireland, lying fifth overall, still have a 10-point buffer with two tournaments remaining.
The Lucy Mulhall-led team currently hold the last of the automatic Olympic qualification spots, sitting on 58 points ahead of the penultimate round in Hong Kong which takes place between March 31 and April 2.
Ireland had the better of the early exchanges in the 5th place semi-final against Canada. With Krissy Scurfield in the sin bin, Mulhall's pinpoint cross-field kick was claimed by Béibhinn Parsons for an opening third-minute try.
However, Canada built for a strong finish to the first half, making good metres with their carries. From a tapped penalty five metres out, Fancy Bermudez plunged over for the levelling try.
Canadian captain Olivia Apps added a second score past the half-time hooter, stepping inside Megan Burns after Ireland had failed to take advantage of promising runs from Emily Lane and Eve Higgins.
Trailing 12-7 at the interval, the girls in green could not convert a Mulhall break into points - Claire Boles knocked on near the left touchline - and a fired-up Canada made them pay soon after.
Lively replacement Keyara Wardley dashed clear from just outside her own 22, leaving three Irish players in her wake. Apps tagged the extras for a 19-7 scoreline and Ireland had it all to do.
Vicky Elmes Kinlan caught Scurfield with a ball-dislodging tackle, Mulhall electing to launch a kick chase with the possession but Canada stormed back with Bermudez racing through to ground her second try, despite Parsons' chase back.
There was some late consolation as, following a Kathy Baker-won penalty, Mulhall weaved downfield and sent Elmes Kinlan in behind the posts for her fourth try on the World Series circuit.
Lane and Higgins were both prominent early on in the 7th-8th place play-off against Britain. Ireland failed to profit from a good chunk of territory, though, and the game remained scoreless despite determined breaks from Lisa Thomson and Lane.
Play continued after Stacey Flood kicked through and appeared to be tackled late, the ball making its way out to Jasmine Joyce who burst clear from her own 22 and was deemed to have scored despite Parsons' attempts to hold her up.
Emma Uren added a second try past the half-time hooter, Elmes Kinlan doing really well to deny Jones out wide before Britain shifted the ball to the opposite wing and doubled their lead to 10-0.
Playing again without Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Ireland were missing a vital weapon in attack and they conceded early after the restart. Thomson used a Megan Jones turnover to send replacement Rhona Lloyd over in the right corner.
British co-captain Jones dummied and darted in between Burns and Katie Heffernan, taking off from the edge of the Irish 22 to make it 20-0 with 10 minutes on the clock.
The GB team continued to be quickest to the breakdown, another costly penalty against Ireland allowing Ellie Boatman to run in try number five via fellow replacement Isla Norman-Bell's pass.
Once Mulhall and her team-mates managed to retain possession, they made headway. Lloyd's deliberate knock-on landed her in the bin, but Baker threw a forward pass to rule out a try for Parsons.
That elusive score did come right at the death, Burns carrying up towards the posts before Higgins ghosted out to the right and fended off Jones to cross in the corner.
Meanwhile, the draw for the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens has provided some added spice with Ireland joining Fiji, who trail them on 48 points, second-ranked Australia, and Brazil in a mouth-watering Pool B line-up.
Trailing 12-7 at the interval, the girls in green could not convert a Mulhall break into points - Claire Boles knocked on near the left touchline - and a fired-up Canada made them pay soon after.
Lively replacement Keyara Wardley dashed clear from just outside her own 22, leaving three Irish players in her wake. Apps tagged the extras for a 19-7 scoreline and Ireland had it all to do.
Vicky Elmes Kinlan caught Scurfield with a ball-dislodging tackle, Mulhall electing to launch a kick chase with the possession but Canada stormed back with Bermudez racing through to ground her second try, despite Parsons' chase back.
There was some late consolation as, following a Kathy Baker-won penalty, Mulhall weaved downfield and sent Elmes Kinlan in behind the posts for her fourth try on the World Series circuit.
Lane and Higgins were both prominent early on in the 7th-8th place play-off against Britain. Ireland failed to profit from a good chunk of territory, though, and the game remained scoreless despite determined breaks from Lisa Thomson and Lane.
Play continued after Stacey Flood kicked through and appeared to be tackled late, the ball making its way out to Jasmine Joyce who burst clear from her own 22 and was deemed to have scored despite Parsons' attempts to hold her up.
Emma Uren added a second try past the half-time hooter, Elmes Kinlan doing really well to deny Jones out wide before Britain shifted the ball to the opposite wing and doubled their lead to 10-0.
Playing again without Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Ireland were missing a vital weapon in attack and they conceded early after the restart. Thomson used a Megan Jones turnover to send replacement Rhona Lloyd over in the right corner.
British co-captain Jones dummied and darted in between Burns and Katie Heffernan, taking off from the edge of the Irish 22 to make it 20-0 with 10 minutes on the clock.
The GB team continued to be quickest to the breakdown, another costly penalty against Ireland allowing Ellie Boatman to run in try number five via fellow replacement Isla Norman-Bell's pass.
Once Mulhall and her team-mates managed to retain possession, they made headway. Lloyd's deliberate knock-on landed her in the bin, but Baker threw a forward pass to rule out a try for Parsons.
That elusive score did come right at the death, Burns carrying up towards the posts before Higgins ghosted out to the right and fended off Jones to cross in the corner.
Meanwhile, the draw for the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens has provided some added spice with Ireland joining Fiji, who trail them on 48 points, second-ranked Australia, and Brazil in a mouth-watering Pool B line-up.