Ireland Women racked up a resounding 36 – 0 win at Ashbourne today in the re-arranged RBS Women’s Six Nations match against Wales.

First half tries from Joy Neville, Sophie Spence and Niamh Kavanagh plus a Niamh Briggs conversion gave Ireland a 17 – 0 lead at the break. Ireland added quick tries from Alison Millar and Gill Bourke after the restart with full back Ashleigh Baxter adding the sixth in the final quarter. Briggs added two conversions to give the Girls in Green their 36 points.

Ireland were quick out of the blocks with a try from No. 8 Neville after 9 minutes. The experienced back row finishing off an impressive driving maul to give Ireland the opening score.

Wales fought their way back into the game and missed a chance to get on the scoreboard with a penalty attempt coming up short. The visitors enjoyed their best period of the game and they continued to put Ireland under pressure resulting in Ireland’s Grace Davitt receiving a yellow card on the 26th minute but the visitors were unable to make their player advantage count.

Fully restored to 15 players Ireland managed to score two decisive tries before the break with first Spence charging free to score under the posts for a converted try only to be quickly followed by left wing Kavanagh who finished off an excellent break by Claire Molloy. Briggs missed the second conversion but Ireland were happy with their 17 – 0 lead at the break.

Ireland sealed the win within minutes of the re-start when right wing Millar latched onto a dropped pass to sprint clear to score and Briggs added the extras to give Ireland a commanding 24 – 0 lead.

Ten minutes later Ireland’s impressive hooker Bourke went over for the fifth try, this time the conversion hitting the posts to leave the score 29 – 0.

There was still more to come from Ireland as full back Baxter broke free to score her first try for Ireland and Briggs added a superb touchline conversion to move the score onto 36 – 0, taking the scoreline into the record books for Ireland v Wales.

Despite losing substitute Heather O’Brien to the bin in the final quarter the Irish ladies managed to hold on comfortably to record their largest win against the Welsh women.

Final score: Ireland 36 Wales 0.

Ireland Women:  Ashleigh Baxter, Niamh Kavanagh , Niamh Briggs, Grace Davitt, Alison Miller, Lynne Cantwell, Amy Davis, Fiona Coghlan, Gillian Bourke, Ailis Egan, Marie Louise Reilly, Sophie Spence, Laura Guest, Claire Molloy, Joy Neville. Replacement: Paula Fitzpatrick, Ruth O’Reilly, Siobhan Fleming, Heather O’Brien, Larissa Muldoon, Nikki Caughey, Jennifer Murphy.