Reilly helps Ireland surge to the top of the table
Maire Louise Reilly played her part as Ireland went to the top of the Women's Six Nations table when they defeated Italy 27-3 today at L'Aquila however there was no appearance on the field of play by Jennie Finlay.
Reilly played the full game as Ireland struggled to deal with the home side in the opening half and at the break the score stood at 3-3. Nora Stapleton scored from a penaly for the Irish.
In the second-half Ireland proved much more adventurous and with the help of tries from Leah Lyons, Sophie Spence, Paul Fitzpatrick and Hannah Tyrrell they wrapped up victory with Stapleton tagging on two conversions.
Tyrrell's try was scored when she ran near the lenght of the field in the last play of the game.
Tom Tierney’s side claimed the extra point but the coach will have plenty to work on ahead of the visit of France, who beat Scotland 55-0 yesterday.
Former Navan player Jennie Finlay who earned her first cap the previous week against Scotland did not, on this occasion, get a chance to add to her haul of caps.
On Saturday Ireland achieved one of their most convincing victories ever when they trounced Italy 63-10 in the Six Nations clash in Rome with Devin Toner contributing to the big win.
CJ Sander became the first player since Brian O'Driscoll in 2002 to score a hat-trick of tries in the Six Nations while late Craig Gilroy chalked up the same feat. Keith Earls ran in two tries while Garry Ringrose also broke through the weak Italian cover to get over for a touchdown.
Paddy Jackson also tagged on 18 points all coming from conversions.
Unlike the game against Scotland the previous week Toner and his colleagues in the pack dominated their opponents who struggled to get a foothold in the game.
Ireland - Mairead Coyne (Galwegians/Connacht); Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Sene Naoupu (Aylesford Bulls), Alison Miller (Old Belvedere/Connacht); Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster); Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Leah Lyons (Highfield/Munster), Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Elaine Anthony (Highfield/Munster), Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster), Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht), Paula Fitzpatrick (St Mary's/Leinster) (capt). Subs - Claire McLaughlin (Cooke/Ulster) for Murphy (38 mins-half-time), Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster) for Anthony, Mary Healy (Galwegians/Connacht) for Hughes (both half-time), Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/Leinster) for Griffin (62), Ciara O'Connor (Galwegians/Connacht), Ilse van Staden (Cooke/Ulster) for Peat (both 73). Not used: Jennie Finlay (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians/Munster).