LAW LEAVES IT LATE TO KEEP WORLD CUP DREAM ALIVE
SARAH LAW kept her composure to score the crucial conversion with the last kick of the game and put Scotland into the repechage for next year’s World Cup after a dramatic victory over Ireland.
Ireland knew they needed a bonus-point win to secure top spot in the group, while Scotland could only finish second with victory.
And it was the Scots who managed to secure an unlikely win at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma when they rallied late on to score a converted try.
It sparked huge celebrations in the Scottish camp and left Ireland heartbroken as their hopes of making it to the World Cup in New Zealand were ended. Italy beat Spain 34-10 earlier in the day and that piled on the pressure ahead of the final game of the European qualifier.
And the Italians watched on as Ireland took an early lead.
It came in the 19th minute when Ireland tighthead Linda Djougang collected a poor pass from Kathryn Dane before a rampaging run where she left five tacklers in her wake before touching down.
Stacey Flood missed the conversion but it was an important score for Ireland, with their sights set on four tries.
Scotland were next to score and that came after openside Edel McMahon was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on opposite number Rachel McLachlan.
Helen Nelson pointed to the posts and she scored the penalty to reduce the arrears to 5-3.
That was the only score Ireland conceded while they were down to 14 players but, when McMahon returned, Scotland scored their first try.
Hannah Smith had been one of the stand-out performers in the first half and she made the initial break before a last-ditch tackle from Sene Naoupu. But the ball got recycled and a wonderfully weighted kick from Nelson was pounced upon by Lloyd.
Nelson couldn’t score the conversion but Scotland went into the break with a well-deserved 8-5 advantage.
Scotland’s second try arrived in the 48th minute and it came as the result of a scrum penalty where replacement fly-half Law kicked to the corner. Skeldon threw to the middle of the lineout and it ended up with her emerging to score from close range.
Ireland hit back via a Stacey Flood penalty — and, after more sustained pressure, Naoupu delayed her pass and Peat latched on to score. Flood scored the conversion and another penalty to give Ireland an 18-13 lead.
But Higgins was sent to the sinbin and Chloe Rollie touched down in the 82nd minute before Law held her nerve to put Scotland through to the repechage.
Italy progressed through the automatic qualifying spot.