ALL ABOUT NEVE
Late try from hooker secures first silverware since 2015
Ireland 15 Spain 13
IRELAND exorcised a few demons in Dubai yesterday.
A second-half surge and a late try from Neve Jones secured a hard-fought victory against Spain in the WXV 3 final at The Sevens Stadium.
It was some revenge against the team which derailed their World Cup dreams on a grim night in Parma two years ago.
That World Cup qualifier defeat was the precursor to a depressing 24 months for the national team, with poor results and no shortage of controversy off the field, to boot.
The most recent Six Nations campaign – with Ireland finishing with the Wooden Spoon for the first time since 2004 – was the reason why this squad was competing in WXV 3, the lowest tier of this new global tournament.
It’s the reason why they were competing against the likes of Kazakhstan and Colombia in recent weeks, games they won by an aggregate score of 173-3. So, no one will be getting carried away with this title triumph in the Middle East.
Spain, yesterday’s opposition, are a different proposition, however. They are a proper side who pushed Scott Bemand’s team all the way.
At one stage, this contest looked to be slipping away from Ireland, with Las Leonas surging into a halftime lead after a first period which saw co-captain Edel McMahon and frontrower Linda Djougang both spend time in the sin-bin.
The way with which Bemand’s charges soaked up all that pressure and hit back with an impressive second-half flourish is a palpable sign of progress. Of course, the real acid test for this new-look outfit will be next year’s Six Nations when the likes of England, France and ever-improving Wales looming large.
It’s a bit too early to be talking about Ireland turning a corner at this level. But this was encouraging nonetheless. The chance to move up into the WXV 2 tier next year is now in reach. Progress, again.
And the sight of McMahon and her fellow skipper Sam Monaghan hoisting a trophy on a winners’ podium will do wonders for morale. They know this isn’t the most prized piece of silverware on offer but it’s the first tangible thing an Ireland women’s team has claimed since the 2015 Six Nations title. Again, it won’t do morale any harm.
They are some solid foundations to build on now. And they will take heart from the way they dealt from a tough opening. The same demons which haunted them in Parma in 2021 would have returned when McMahon was shown a yellow card. The Exeter Chiefs flanker was sent to the sin-bin after just two minutes of play for a clumsy high tackle on Spain flanker Maria Calvo.
Beibhinn Parsons looked short odds to open Ireland’s account but the flying wing knocked on with the try-line at her mercy.
Spain would soon take full advantage with outside centre Claudia Pena Hidalgo racing onto Aoife Dalton’s loose pass to race away for the opening try of the game.
Spain full-back Amalia Argudo converted and soon fired over a penalty from the tee to edge her side into a 10-point lead.
Ireland out-half Dannah O’Brien finally got her side on the board with a 35th-minute penalty.
But the Spanish finished the half the stronger, with Djougang seeing yellow at the end of a long siege on the Irish try-line. An Argudo penalty tacked on another three points as Spain moved into a commanding 13-3 lead at the interval.
Ireland needed some inspiration and it arrived on the hour mark when flanker Grace Moore powered over the Spanish line on the back of a surging lineout maul.
That set piece move proved to the be match-winner in the dying stages. It was a brave call from this Irish team to kick for touch rather than go for three points on 68 minutes, when a draw would have been enough to win them the title. And it proved to be crucial.
After a number or drives, Jones eventually plundered the winning score from another big shove to seal the win, revenge for Parma, and a trophy. Not a bad night’s work.