Another exciting Six Nations campaign came to an end for Ireland Women with a narrow defeat to France Women who sealed their first Grand Slam in the Women’s Six Nations since 2005.

Ireland made the hosts work hard with a second half rally, featuring two tries from Gill Bourke, but the French deserved their victory following blistering starts to each half.

France seemed determined to put this game to bed early with a frenetic opening five minutes that saw them cross the Irish line three times only to be held up twice before working the ball to the right for Marion Lievre to go over in the corner. Sandrine Agricole missed the conversion but it looked as though it was going to be a long night for Ireland as the French dominated possession.

The Irish girls showed their character and worked hard to get back in the game and despite a series of French attacks they kept their line intact until the break to turn round 5 – 0 down.

Unfortunately for the Girls in Green their work was undone at the start of the second half when prop Elodie Protaries went over from close range on the 44th minute and Agricole converted to give the home team a 12 – 0 lead.

Ireland hit back with a Niamh Briggs penalty 5 minutes later to take the score to 12 – 3 but a well worked try with Agricole putting Shannon Izar through for a converted try gave France a commanding 19 – 3 lead after 52 minutes.

France proceeded to empty their bench shortly after in what appeared to be an early statement that the game was over and the presumptive action appeared to rally the Irish who resorted to their pack to get back in the game.

A driving maul out on the left was rewarded with Bourke touching down to get Ireland back in the game on the 60th minute and when Ireland repeated the process on the 71st minute, with Bourke again claiming the try and Briggs converting, the French appeared rattled with the score at 19 – 15.

Ireland pushed hard for a winning score in the closing minutes but the French regrouped sufficiently to retain possession and held on for the Grand Slam.

It was a disappointing outing for the Ulster contingent with their time on the pitch dropping from 23% last time out to 9% for this decider.

Ashleigh Baxter was substituted on the 70th minute after a quiet game by her standards. Baxter works hard throughout to maintain her positional discipline and is seldom found wanting in defence but, with so much of Ireland’s attacking ball going through Briggs and Miller, she really has to fight to get more involved going forward.

Stacey Lea Kennedy gave her usual wholehearted performance and looked to shore up the scum when she came on after 63 minutes and I must admit that I thought she should have started to help temper the expected French onslaught.

Grace Davitt looked sharp in the centre of the park and made a couple of breaks when she got the nod on the 65th minute.

I was somewhat surprised that Amy Davis didn’t get a run out during a game that would have suited her abrasive style.

However, my own preferences aside, it was another successful campaign for Ireland Women. Close matches against England and France, both away from home, certainly give them something to build on ahead of the World Cup in August. It’s fine margins at this level and cutting out a few mistakes could easily have pushed these matches the other way.

The result leaves Ireland in second place though it is likely that they will drop to 3rd should England get an expected win against Italy tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon.

Ireland Women: Niamh Briggs, Ashleigh Baxter, Lynne Cantwell, Jenny Murphy, Alison Miller, Nora Stapleton, Larissa Muldoon, Fiona Coghlan, Gillian Bourke, Ailis Egan, Sophie Spence, Marie Louise Reilly, Siobhan Fleming, Heather O’Brien. Replacements: Stacey-Lea Kennedy, Fiona Hayes, Kerrie-Ann Craddock, Paula Fitzpatrick, Amy Davis, Hannah Casey, Grace Davitt, Jackie Shiels.

TEAM	P	W	PD	TF	TA	PTS
FRANCE WOMEN	5	5	141	25	2	10
IRELAND WOMEN	5	3	95	20	6	6
ENGLAND WOMEN	4	3	90	19	3	6
ITALY WOMEN	4	2	(27)	8	12	4
WALES WOMEN	4	0	(68)	1	12	0
SCOTLAND WOMEN	4	0	(231)	1	39	0