Clinical Irish show real grit

Ireland’s women called upon endless reserves of defensive grit for the second week running as they defeated Scotland in Ashbourne.

Playing their third home match in successive weeks, the Irish constantly probed out wide and, on a better night for handling, could have doubled their eventual try count of three.

Ashleigh Baxter and Niamh Kavanagh were dynamos in the back line and combined on six minutes to help put Sophie Spence over. Niamh Briggs added the conversion but missed a penalty after 11 minutes.