A excessive scoring second 40 noticed England take again management in opposition to a spirited Eire facet, with alternative Sarah Bern scoring twice to assist England register a 49-5 victory and keep heading in the right direction for a Guinness Girls’s Six Nations Grand Slam.
It was removed from simple for John Mitchell’s facet in Cork, after going behind because of an Amee-Leigh Costigan strive within the twenty fourth minute, solely forging forward for the primary time 12 minutes later as half-time approached with Morwenna Talling’s strive.
The second half was a special story, although, as Bern, who has made headlines on this match off discipline together with her TikTok dances, crashed over twice and Ellie Kildunne scored a advantageous particular person effort in a seven-try show to assist England take one other step in the direction of a fourth successive Grand Slam.
Eire nearly went in entrance early on however Linda Djougang was denied on the road and whereas the guests dominated first-half territory, scoring alternatives had been tougher to style.
Defence was on high at Musgrave Park however the residence followers got a second to savour when Costigan gained a foot race with Abby Dow to complete off Dannah O’Brien’s completely weighted kick and stun England.
It seemed like Eire’s lead would stand till half-time, however with 5 minutes of the primary interval left Talling dotted down after a driving maul and Zoe Harrison added the extras to make sure it was 7-5 to England on the break.
With Mitchell’s phrases nonetheless ringing within the ears of the England gamers, Jess Breach was denied a strive by TMO earlier than Eire’s Niamh O’Dowd was sin-binned for repeated infringements.
England didn’t want lengthy to make their numerical benefit rely as Harrison crossed earlier than Megan Jones grabbed a strive after unselfish play by Dow noticed her cross again inside off the wing.
O’Dowd was again on at this level, however the floodgates had been open and Bern used her energy and tempo to seal a bonus level after England recycled the ball properly.
It was shortly adopted by one other for Bern earlier than Kildunne produced a superb sixth strive for England as she skipped previous O’Dowd and raced away from two different Irish gamers to attain a advantageous solo effort.
The ultimate phrase went to Kelsey Clifford, who managed to go in beneath the posts late on for her first England strive, and Harrison added a seventh profitable conversion.
