Fast start for Irish as they humble hosts

IRELAND thrashed Wales as they got their Women’s Six Nations campaign off to a perfect start at Cardiff Arms Park.

Full-back Eimear Considine and wing Beibhinn Parsons scored two tries each to help secure a bonus point inside the opening 20 minutes, with Sene Naoupu running in a fifth before the interval to give the Irish a 31-0 lead at half time.

Wales, outclassed 53-0 away to France in their opening Pool B fixture, at least managed to stem the flow during the second half. It was not until the 72nd minute that Dorothy Wall added a sixth try for Ireland, with Hannah Tyrrell scoring late on to wrap up a comprehensive victory.

The players observed a two minute’s silence before kick-off following the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh with flags at half mast at the Arms Park and neighbouring Principality Stadium.

Ireland now take on Les Bleues at Donnybrook on Saturday as they look to progress to a showdown against Pool A winners England in the championship final of a revamped tournament.

Wales will finish bottom of Pool B and will contest a 5th/6th place play-off against Scotland or Italy on April 24.

call the players and spectators off the course due to an approaching thunderstorm.

At seven under par, Rose was a shot ahead of playing partner Will Zalatoris, with Justin Thomas, Corey Conners – who had a hole-in-one on the sixth – Hideki Matsuyama and Marc Leishman all on five under.

Former champion Jordan Spieth was a shot further back after following a double bogey on the seventh with a remarkable recovery from the trees on the eighth to set up an unlikely birdie.

Rose had earlier narrowly avoided a bunker with his opening drive and took full advantage, hitting his second shot to 12 feet and converting the birdie attempt.

The 40- year- old also birdied the par- five second, but bogeyed the fourth and fifth after failing to get up and down from a greenside bunker on both holes.