Ireland resumed their Women’s Six Nations campaign in perfect fashion with a hard-fought 21-7 victory over Italy, earning them a clean sweep of home wins in the 2020 series.
The visitors were first to strike at Donnybrook, Melissa Bettoni dotting down before prop Lindsay Peat crashed over to help the hosts draw level.
Claire Molloy capped her 70th international appearance with a score shortly before half-time, and a late penalty try sealed the victory for Adam Griggs’ charges.
Having exacted revenge for their first-ever defeat to Italy in 2019, Ireland move into second place in the standings with a trip to France remaining, while Andrea Di Giandomenico’s side have one win from three games so far.
After an evenly-contested start to proceedings, the visitors gradually gained control of the ball and created the first real try-scoring chance in the 10th minute.
A sustained period of pressure saw the ball floated out wide to Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, who looked certain to cross the whitewash only for steely Irish defence to deny the young Valsugana Rugby Padova winger an opening score.
Italy remained firmly in Irish territory for several phases, but Peat and Molloy led the Irish resolve, and Hannah Tyrrell eventually found touch to signal a big sigh of relief.
It wasn’t long before the Azzurre came back one again however, and Giada Franco powered through three challenges to get within touching distance of the try-line, before a silky offload from Michela Sillari set up Bettoni to go over for the game’s first try on the quarter-hour mark.
Griggs’ Ireland responded brightly with an attack of their own as Beibhinn Parsons announced herself to the game with a searing 20-metre run, but Italy demonstrated their defensive nous to quell the threat.
Parsons was involved again minutes later as Tyrrell pounced on an Italy mistake and kicked into space, and although the 18-year-old couldn’t convert the chance, Ireland continued to push forward until Nichola Fryday knocked on near the posts.
But Ireland eventually got their reward three minutes shy of the break, Peat bulldozing over after an effective driving maul, before Tyrrell knocked over the extras to pull her side back on terms.
With the momentum now firmly in their favour, Ireland had time to double their lead before half-time as Molloy marked her return to the international fray with a try, the 32-year-old crossing after a cleverly-worked team move.
Both teams enjoyed possession at the start of the second period as they looked to swing the pendulum in their favour, but a combination of unforced errors and strong defensive showings limited the creation of any clear-cut opportunities.
Energy levels remained high as the game headed towards its conclusion, and smart handling from Peat and Lauren Delany saw Ireland earn a strong shot at a third try in the corner, only for a mistake at the lineout to turn the ball back into Italian hands.
But the home side were able to celebrate an extension to their lead in the 70th minute. Skipper Ciara Griffin was originally credited with the score only for a penalty try to eventually be awarded after an infringement at the scrum, as Kathryn Dane was adjudged to have blocked an Italian defender while her team had the advantage.
And, while Italy kept fighting until the final whistle was sounded, Ireland stood firm to take the spoils and reduce their opponents to only their third defeat in ten Women’s Six Nations matches.
