ENGLAND WOMEN are unbeaten in three years in the Six Nations and despite a valiant Irish effort, that record remained intact as the favourites sealed a third straight Grand Slam with a 23-6 win at Esher.
Gary Street’s side had conceded a miserly six points in four Championship games and their defensive qualities again came to the fore to suffocate Ireland, in the process becoming the first side to go an entire tournament without conceding a try.
England could find no way through in a tense first half. Then skipper and fly-half, Katy McLean, stepped up when her team needed her, providing the moment of class to break the deadlock and send them on their way.
Her try 15 minutes into the second half appeared to break the Irish resistance and despite the home side missing a couple of kickable penalties, Amy Turner’s late effort sealed the outcome. England’s defensive wall proved impenetrable, with two Niamh Briggs penalties all Ireland they had to show for their efforts.
The visitors had started the stronger and took a deserved lead through Briggs after five minutes. England then began to edge the territory and possession stakes. McLean took advantage of her side’s dominance in the scrum to give England the lead with two penalties.
Advertisement
Rather than crumble, Ireland responded immediately through Briggs and Street was handed an added headache when star openside, Maggie Alphonsi, was forced off with a leg injury, the sides going into the break tied 6-6.
With her team struggling to impose themselves, McLean combined with centre Rachael Burford to dance her way over for the game’s first try. The skipper fed Burford before wrapping around and, with the Irish defence split open, showed exquisite footwork to step her way over. Her conversion put England 16-6 up and when Briggs fluffed her lines from the following restart, the game was up for the visitors.
Turner’s burrowing try with eight minutes remaining put the result beyond doubt. A clearly delighted McLean said: “We’re absolutely elated, it’s an incredible feeling. This is the best we’ve played all tournament."