Ireland thrash Scotland in front of record crowd

Figure caption, Ireland take apart Scotland with a dominate first half display Tries: Moloney-MacDonald, O'Connor, Hogan (2), King, Wafer (2), Flood Cons: O'Brien (7) Ireland finished their Six Nations campaign in style with a dominant victory over Scotland in front of a record attendance at the Aviva Stadium. The crowd of 31,294 had plenty to celebrate with Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Robyn O'Connor, Brittany Hogan, Erin King, Aoife Wafer (twice) and Stacey Flood all crossing the line during a clinical first half. Hogan added her second try after the restart to seal their second highest victory margin over Scotland before the away side spoiled Ireland's hopes of a clean sheet through Aicha Sutcliffe's late try. The result means that Scott Bemand's side finish third in the table with three home victories while Scotland suffered their fourth consecutive defeat and ended up fifth. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Wafer was awarded player of the match in Dublin after scoring two more tries Head coach Bemand said his side were "desperate to show the best version" of themselves during the first stand-alone women's rugby match at the Aviva, and they certainly delivered. Scotland were put under pressure from the first whistle and conceded an early penalty, with Moloney-MacDonald able to cross over from a driving maul in the opening minutes. O'Connor then danced around multiple blue shirts before finding space to touch down after neat build-up play from King and Wafer to extend the home side's lead. Wafer, who scored twice during the victory over Wales in Belfast, continued her fine form and drove Ireland forward once again before Hogan forced her way over when the Ireland number eight was held up. The dream start continued with the bonus point secured inside 20 minutes when King crossed over from close range before Dannah O'Brien sent her conversion wide for the only time during the action-packed half. King's try was Ireland's 21st of the Championship, a record for the side, but they did not let up and continued to punish a struggling Scotland. A television match official (TMO) review ruled out a second Moloney-MacDonald try as she had been involved in the ruck before picking up the ball. However, moments later, the hooker took advantage of an overthrow and charged forward before sending Wafer over for her fourth try of the campaign. The away side continued to struggle to get out of their own 22 and conceded too many penalties, with Flood able to take advantage of another one when she displayed some lovely footwork to find space before diving over. There was time for one more try before the break with Wafer able to charge over after a clever dummy to give Ireland a commanding 47-0 lead at the break. After Bemand made six changes early in the half, the tempo of the match dropped, with Scotland able to close down any chances created. But Hogan was able to drive over just before the hour mark to add her second try of the afternoon with O'Brien able to add her seventh conversion. Scotland pushed in the final five minutes for a consolation try with Ruth Campbell's yellow card for an accumulation of penalties taken advantage of by Sutcliffe, for her first try in a blue shirt. Ireland: Flood; Parsons, Dalton, Higgins, O'Connor; O'Brien, Lane; Perry, Moloney-MacDonald, Djougang, Monaghan, Tuite, Hogan, King (capt), Wafer. Replacements: Jones, McGrath, Cahill, Wall, Campbell, Whelan, Elmes Kinlan, Gallagher. Scotland: Rollie, Lloyd, Philipps, Smith, Campbell, Nelson, Brebner-Holden; Bartlett, Martin, E. Clarke, Wassell, McMillan, Boyd, Donaldson, Coubrough. Replacements: Sutcliffe, Swann, Poolman, Cunningham, Bogan, R. Clarke, Scott, Grant. Figure caption, Ireland running rampant against Scotland

Ireland thrash Scotland in front of record crowd

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