Ireland edge out USA Eagles in Dublin

By Mark Stevens
14/11/21

Laura Sheehan got the bragging rights over Exeter Chiefs team-mates Rachel Johnson and Kate Zackary as she helped Ireland Women to a 20-10 victory over the USA Eagles in Dublin.

The hosts, playing their first-ever international at the RDS, took the lead after 25 minutes when they claimed a whirlwind try through Beibhinn Parsons.

Although trailing, the response from the Eagles was impressive as they hit to level the scores when Bulou Mataitoga crossed for their opening score of the game.

As half time approached, it was the Irish who reclaimed the lead, capitalising on an error from Carly Waters who dropped the ball into touch. From the resultant line-out, the home side drove from a close-range line-out, propelling prop Leah Lyons over for the try, which was converted by Stacey Flood.

Undeterred, the Eagles - under the captaincy of Zackary - began brightly and they again reduced the arrears with their second try. Hope Rogers, who was again a force, powered through some tacklers and offloaded nicely to Mataitoga.

The Eagles recycled and a superb offload from Alycia Washington kept them on the front foot before the backs took control,Kayla Cannett cutting back and feeding centre Katana Howard, who linked with Bitsy Cairns to put the flanker over.

But no sooner had the Eagles got themselves back into contention, they lost Amy Bonte to the sin-bin for killing the ball and the Irish made their numerical advantage pay soon after as they mauled prop Lindsay Peat over for their third score.

The visitors continued to try to attack wide, Zackary held up once when threatening the Irish line, before Tess Feury was denied a try of her own when referee Sara Cox deemed she had knocked on as she went to touch the ball down.

It was Ireland, however, who would have the final word, Flood adding a late penalty to seal their victory.