Ireland Women spurned a chance for their third win on the road losing a tense encounter with Wales Women 15 – 14 ar Cross Keys Rugby Club on Sunday afternoon.

Ireland were first on the score sheet with hooker Gill Bourke crashing over from the front of a lineout after 3 minutes. Full back Niamh Briggs added the extras to give Ireland a 0 – 7 lead.

Wales hit back scoring two tries trough Elen Evans and Adi Taviner plus a penalty and conversion from Amiee Young to give the hosts a 15 – 7 lead at the break.

Ireland upped their game in the second half and controlled much of the play but were unable to break through a spirited Welsh defence until 12 minutes from time when Munster hooker Bourke scrambled over for her second score.

Briggs converted out wide and with ten minutes to go it looked like the game was turning in Ireland favour. Unfortunately the “Girls in Green” failed to find the line and the hosts held on for the narrowest of victories with the final score reading Wales 15 Ireland 14.

Ireland’s Women will look to regroup quickly for the final game of the Women’s RBS Six Nations against the unbeaten English team at Ashbourne on Friday night (Kick Off 7:30pm). But the Irish girls will be determined to raise their game to finish of this series in some style.

IRELAND WOMEN: Niamh Briggs (Munster), Niamh Kavanagh (Munster), Lynne Cantwell (Exile), Geraldine Rea (Munster), Mairead Kelly (Munster), Nora Stapleton (Leinster), Amy Davis (Leinster), Fiona Coghlan (Leinster) (C), Gillian Bourke (Munster), Lauren Day (Ulster), Laura Guest (Munster), Marie Louise Reilly (Leinster), Carol Staunton (Connacht), Claire Molloy (Connacht), Joy Neville (Munster). Replacements: Stacey Kennedy (Ulster), Ailis Egan (Leinster), Deirdre O’Brien (Leinster), Heather O’Brien (Munster), Larissa Muldoon (Exile), Gillian Nolan (Leinster), Jackie Shiels (Leinster)