Ireland ladies secure first win

Ireland 37 South Africa 0

Ireland have beaten South Africa 37-0 at the Women's Rugby World Cup, picking up their first win of the tournament and securing a much needed bonus point in the process.

Ireland dominated the game from the outset as centre Grace Davitt’s boot saw them take an early 3-0 lead.

Number eight Joy Neville, one of the many stand-out Irish players on the night, crashed over for a try less than five minutes later and before the half there were also tries from scrum-half Tania Rosser, prop Fiona Coghlan and winger Jeannette Feighery to see Ireland lead 25-0 at the turn-around.

Twelve more points in the second half followed with tries from captain Sarahjane Belton, who was superb in attack from fullback and a dream debut for Cork ladies footballer Mariead Kelly saw her touch down within minutes of coming on the pitch.

She finished off a super run by Belton to see her score on her first appearance at the tournament.

The win has pushed Ireland to up to eighth place ahead of Samoa, who were beaten by Spain, and they will play in the 5th-8th placed play-offs next week – guaranteeing that they will finish higher than the 10th seed ranking they had when they started the competition.

Ireland: Sarahjane Belton (capt); Jeanette Feighery, Lynne Cantwell, Grace Davitt, Suzanne Fleming; Joanne O'Sullivan, Tania Rosser; Fiona Coghlan, Jean Lonergan, Marie Barrett, Caroline Mahon, Rosie Foley, Orla Brennan, Rachel Boyd, Joy Neville.

Replacements: Yvonne Nolan (J Lonergan 70), Laura Guest (for M Barrett 75) Germaine Healy (for R Foley 53), Eimear O'Sullivan (for O Brennan 63), Mairead Kelly (for S Fleming 70) , Nuala Ni Chadhain (for L Cantwell 70) , Shannon Houston (for G Davitt 70)

South Africa: Zandile Nojoko; Yolanda Meiring, Ingrid Botha (capt), Zolisa Noxeke, Natasha Hofmeester; Marie-Lee Erasmus, Saloma Booysen; Louise Du Pisanie, Babalwa Vena, Cebisa Kula, Dolly Mavumengwana, Wendy Adlem, Wendy Khumalo, Nadine Barnard, Mandisa Willams.

Referee: Clare Daniels (England)Touch Judges: Sarah Corrigan (Australia), Christine Hanizet (France)