Ireland women hit Australia for six in impressive win

THE Ireland Women's side, which included six Munster players in the match-day squad, defeated Australia 36-10 to kick off Irish Rugby's 150th Anniversary celebrations in spectacular fashion at Kingspan Stadium, Belfast on Saturday afternoon.

Clinical Ireland produced an impressive six-try display, with back-row Aoife Wafer scoring a try in each half in a player of the match performance.

Three tries were scored in a frantic opening 13 minutes, with Aoife Dalton's early try cancelled out by Wallaroos winger Maya Stewart, who scored again in the second half.

Wafer and UL-Bohemians' Eimear Considine - who was back in Ireland's 15s side for the first time in two years - put Ireland 17-5 ahead at half-time.

Eve Higgins, Wafer and Cliodhna Moloney all scored tries for the home side in the fourth quarter in a dominant Irish display.

Captained by Edel McMahon, Ireland also wore a special commemorative kit, with the classic design taking inspiration from the 1875 origins. 

SCORERS: Ireland: Tries: Aoife Dalton, Aoife Wafer 2, Eimear Considine, Eve Higgins, Cliodhna Moloney; Cons: Dannah O'Brien, Enya Breen 2. Australia: Tries: Maya Stewart 2

IRELAND WOMEN: Eimear Considine (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster); Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC), Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC/Munster), Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union RFC/Munster); Dannah O'Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Leinster); Niamh O'Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury) Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Dorothy Wall (Exeter Chiefs/Munster), Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht) (capt), Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster). Replacements used:Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster) for O'Dowd (47 mins), Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC) for O'Brien, Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC) for McMahon, Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster) for Wall, Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC) for Scuffil-McCabe, Clíodhna Moloney (Exeter Chiefs) for Jones, Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC) for Elmes Kinlan (all 51), Siobhán McCarthy (Gloucester-Hartpury/Munster) for Haney (67).

AUSTRALIA WOMEN: Lori Cramer (University of Queensland); Maya Stewart (Nelson Bay Gropers), Georgina Friedrichs (Wests Bulldogs), Cecilia Smith (Leeton Dianas), Desiree Miller (Eastern Suburbs); Faitala Moleka (Blacktown Scorpions), Natalie Wright (Wests Bulldogs); Bridie O'Gorman (Sydney University), Ashley Marsters (Booroondarra), Eva Karpani (Onkaparinga), Kaitlan Leaney (CSU Marlins), Michaela Leonard (Tuggeranong Vikings), Siokapesi Palu (Rockdale Rangers) (capt), Leilani Nathan (Hamilton Hawks), Tabua Tuinakauvadra (Tuggeranong Vikings). Replacements used: Alapeta Ngauamo (Wests Bulldogs) for Karpani, Layne Morgan (Merewether Carlton) for Wright, Arabella McKenzie (Lightning Ridge Tigers) for Cramer (all 51 mins), Tiarna Molloy (Inverell Highlanders) for Marsters, Lucy Dinnen (Wanneroo) for Nathan (both 56), Lydia Kavoa (Eastern Suburbs) for O'Gorman, Tiarah Minns (Melbourne University/Manly Mermaids) for Leonard (both 70), Biola Dawa (Wagga Reddies) for Stewart (73).

REFEREE: Clara Munarini (Italy)