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Ireland (19) 33
Tries: Wafer (2), Parsons, Hogan (2) Cons: O’Brien (4)
Wales (7) 12
Tries: Evans, Joyce Cons: Bevan
Ireland registered their second win in the Women’s Six Nations with a hard-fought bonus-point victory over Wales at Affidea Stadium.
Coach Scott Bemand spoke of the importance of bouncing back from their defeat by France in Clermont two weeks ago and targeted two wins from their last two matches of the tournament on home turf.
Aoife Wafer, Beibhinn Parsons and Brittany Hogan crossed to give the home side a 19-7 lead after a frantic first half.
Wafer continued to impress in the second half and secured the bonus point during a stop-start second period which included a yellow card for both sides, and Neve Jones having a try disallowed.
Hogan added her second try in the closing seconds to seal a much-needed Ireland success.
It was their third in four games in Belfast and sets them up well for their final game against Scotland in front of what is set to be a record crowd at the Aviva Stadium.
Ireland grow into game and finish strong
Getty ImagesDespite losing their previous eight Six Nations matches, Wales came into the game with confidence after they registered a record four tries against world champions England in their last outing.
They started stronger in Belfast, but Wafer gave Ireland the lead against the run of play when the back row’s persistence paid off and she forced her way over the line before Dannah O’Brien added a challenging extra two.
Wales looked to respond quickly with a huge tackle from Parsons denying Hannah Dallavalle after Carys Cox had taken advantage of a mix-up and fed the ball through.
The visitors kept pushing and registered their first try when Georgia Evans dived over from close range and Keira Bevan was able to convert to level the match.
A double movement denied Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald after she had powered her way over as the home side, buoyed by a vocal crowd, began to settle.
Wafer then turned provider, shrugging off multiple white shirts before a superb offload to Parsons, who raced down the right wing to restore Ireland’s lead.
They then struck a hammer blow just before the break as, opting to play on with clock in the red, Ireland were rewarded for their persistence as they added their third try when Hogan crossed after sustained pressure from a ruck.
After the restart, a television match official [TMO] check confirmed Moloney-MacDonald’s kick out at Evans warranted a yellow card.
Wales were unable to take advantage of having an extra player and it was soon 14-players apiece for a period as Jasmine Joyce was shown a yellow card for placing her hands on the ground when bringing Eve Higgins down.
As the hour mark approached, Aoife Dalton and Linda Djougang linked up and fed the ball to Wafer to cross to secure the bonus point.
Bemand then turned to his bench and made a flurry of changes which added energy to their play.
Replacement Jones thought she had added Ireland’s fifth shortly after her introduction, only for her effort to be ruled out after a TMO review.
Joyce added Wales’ second try in the final five minutes as she held off Parsons and stretched to ground the ball.
Ireland did land a fifth try in the final seconds as Hogan bundled over from close range, with O’Brien able to convert for a fourth time.
Line-ups
Ireland: Flood; Parsons, Dalton, Higgins, O’Connor; O’Brien, Lane; Perry, Moloney-MacDonald, Djougang, Wall, Tuite, Hogan, King (capt), Wafer
Replacements: Jones, McGrath, Cahill, Campbell, Monaghan, Moore, Whelan, Gallagher
Wales: Powell; Dallavalle, Cox, Keight, J Joyce; George, Bevan; Pyrs, Jones, Tuipulotu, Metcalfe, Evans, Aiono, Lewis (capt), King
Replacements: Reardon, Davies, Rose, John, A Joyce, Lockwood, Bell, Prothero
