Magical Miller on the mark for Ireland again in historic Triple Crown win
Flying Portlaoise winger Alison Miller was on the score-sheet again as the Irish Ladies Rugby team created history last Saturday by securing their first ever Triple Crown with a 30-3 win over Scotland.
Miller’s first try came in the 27th minute with Ireland just in front by 8-3 and the score proved to be the catalyst for Ireland to go on and secure their third consecutive win in this year’s Six Nations Championship. Her second try on the day, which was also her fifth in two games following her hat-trick against England, put Ireland 18-3 ahead and removed any remaining nerves.
As well as securing the Triple Crown, the win also ensures Ireland qualification for the 2014 World Cup.
Speaking after the game the Portlaoise and Connacht player who has been one of the outstanding players in the tournament paid tribute to her colleagues for providing the platform for her to score the all important tries.
“It was another great day and it was great to get the tries but similar to England it was a team effort with the momentum from the forwards and the ability of the backs to be able to get it out and be clinical and get the ball to me and get me in that position. It was great to be able to finish the scores and get the tries.”
Ireland went into the game as overwhelming favourites but they struggled in the early exchanges and found themselves 3-0 behind up to the 22nd minute. Alison Miller explained after the game that nerves were a factor for the team with such a big prize in sight.
“We had a lot of possession but we tried to force it a little bit. Maybe it was a little bit of nerves. Eagerness was taking the better of us but we settled down in the second-half and we played our own game and it was clear to see in the second-half when we implemented our game plan it paid dividends and we got the rewards.”
She also outlined how much hard work went into this historic breakthrough.
“It’s massive. I’m one of the newer girls, it’s just my third season. Years of hard work lead to this day. The girls who started off 20 years ago built it up to this day. The hard work over four or five years building up. Hard work and the work you put in just doesn’t happen. It’s been leading up to this day so when you believe you can do something and you actually do it, it’s a great feeling.”
Meanwhile Portlaoise’s Eoghan Masterson was also in action for Ireland over the weekend. The back row forward came on as a replacement in Ireland’s one point defeat at the hands of Scotland.
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Weather for Portlaoise
Saturday 25 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 16 C
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Wind direction: South
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