Parsons hat-trick as Ireland thrash Italy in Galway
TL;DR
Ireland secured a dominant 57-20 victory over Italy in the Women's Six Nations, highlighted by a hat-trick from Parsons. The match took place in Galway.
Key points
- Ireland scored 57 points against Italy
- Parsons achieved a hat-trick
- Ireland scored 9 tries in total
- Match held in Galway
- Italy scored 20 points
Women's Six Nations
Ireland (45) 57
Tries: Lane, Wafer, Parsons 3, O'Connor, Perry, Moloney-MacDonald, Hogan Cons: O'Brien 6
Italy (10) 20
Tries: Vecchini, Minuzzi, Madia, D'Inca
Beibhinn Parsons scored a hat-trick as nine-try Ireland turned on the style to thrash Italy in Galway and register their first Women's Six Nations win of the year.
Having opened the tournament with a 33-12 loss to England at Allianz Stadium last week, rampant Ireland scored seven tries to build a commanding half-time lead.
In the first Women's Six Nations game at Connacht's newly redeveloped Dexcom Stadium, Galway-born winger Parsons delighted the 9,206-strong crowd - a record for an Ireland women's home game - with a trio of fine finishes.
Emily Lane opened Ireland's account, while Aoife Wafer, debutant Robyn O'Connor and Ellena Perry also crossed in a hugely impressive opening 40 minutes.
Vittoria Vecchini's try and a stunning breakaway effort from full-back Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi kept alive Italy's hopes of securing a try bonus point.
Ireland added two more tries in the second half through Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald and Brittany Hogan, but Veronica Madia and Alyssa D'Inca scores secured a bonus point for Italy.
Ireland move up to third in the table while Italy remain bottom.
Parsons treble lights up first half
Earlier this week, Ireland head coach Scott Bemand said his players had taken a sluggish start against world champions England which left them trailing 21-0 at the break "to heart".
Determined to bury that pain, they flew out of the traps against Italy, with scrum-half Lane taking a quick tap penalty and darting over the line to open the scoring after five minutes.
And while Vecchini - who scored twice in Italy's win in Dublin two years ago - hit back, Ireland tore into the away side and had the bonus point secured after just 23 minutes.
Aoife Wafer - who struggled to influence the game against England - was often at the heart of Ireland's moves with strong carries and the Harlequins back row scored the home side's second when she drove off the back of a maul.
A slick attacking move put Parsons in for her first before Aoife Dalton sent left wing O'Connor through to mark her debut in style with the bonus-point score. The 20-year-old could have had a second after being picked out by Dannah O'Brien's kick, but her foot was in touch before she dotted down.
Parsons - who missed last year's Six Nations through injury - then beat three Italian defenders to notch her second before Minuzzi showed the Irish defence a clean pair of heels to grab the visitors' second.
Ireland, however, finished the half strongly as former England prop Perry scored her first Six Nations try before Wafer sent Parsons down the left wing for her third.
Image caption,
Robyn O'Connor marked her debut with a first-half try
While Moloney-MacDonald stretched Ireland's lead early in the second half, the hosts took their foot off the gas during a more disjointed second half, with fluency not helped by the introduction of six replacements after 53 minutes.
That was after Madia scored Italy's third, and while Hogan crossed for Ireland's ninth, Italy had the final say as D'Inca notched the visitors' bonus-point score.
In addition to player of the match Parsons and Wafer, fly-half Dannah O'Brien impressed again for Ireland, kicking six conversions.
Ireland, who move up to third in the table, travel to Clermont to face France on 25 April while Italy welcome Scotland to Parma.
Line-ups
Ireland: Flood; Parsons, Dalton, McGillivray, O'Connor; O'Brien, Lane; Perry, Moloney-MacDonald, Djougang, Campbell, Tuite, Hogan, King (capt), Wafer.
Replacements: Jones, O'Dowd, McGrath, Wall, Monaghan, Whelan, Higgins, McGann.
Italy: Minuzzi; Buso, D'Inca, Mannini, Muzzo; Stevanin, Stefan; Maris, Vecchini, Pilani, Fedrighi, Costanini, Sgorbini, Ranuccini, Giordano.
Replacements: Cheli, Turani, Zanette, Duca, Veronese, Bitonci, Madia, Sillari.
Match officials
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (Australia)
Assistant referees: Ben Connor (Wales) & Rebecca Piddlesden (England)
TMO: Graham Cooper (Australia)
Q&A
What was the final score of the Ireland vs Italy Women's Six Nations match?
Ireland won the match with a final score of 57-20 against Italy.
Who scored a hat-trick in the Ireland vs Italy match?
Parsons scored a hat-trick for Ireland during the match against Italy.
How many tries did Ireland score against Italy?
Ireland scored a total of 9 tries in their match against Italy.
Where did the Ireland vs Italy Women's Six Nations match take place?
The match was held in Galway.
