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Will Carpenter writes

Posted Monday, March 19th 2018 @bristolsportwkc

Reed touches down as Red Roses down Ireland in Six Nations finale

Monday, March 19th 2018

Amber Reed came off the bench to score a second-half try, as England Women – featuring three Bristol Ladies players - ended their 2018 Six Nations campaign with a bonus-point 33-11 win over Claire Molloy’s Ireland at Ricoh Arena, Coventry to finish second in the competition.

⚠ AMBER WARNING ⚠@avreed12 scores the Red Roses' fifth!

Watch LIVE now on @SkySports pic.twitter.com/PeDgRzt60X
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) March 16, 2018

Reed collected a pass from Katy Daley-Mclean to stroll in under the posts midway through the second period, while Lagi Tuima and Caity Mattinson – on her first Test start – impressed for Simon Middleton’s side. Molloy started at openside flanker for Ireland, putting in a typically industrious display.

“It was a battling performance; we had to fight for every ball as Ireland probably have one of the best back rows in the game," said head coach Simon Middleton.

Caity Mattinson on her first Test start (JMP UK).

“We had to problem solve as they presented different pictures than they looked at previously, so I’m really pleased with how we built our performance.

“The crowds are growing all the time. We had a great crowd at the Stoop, the atmosphere was amazing last week in France and it was a great crowd tonight.”

England Women: 15. Ellie Kildunne, 14. Kelly Smith, 13. Lagi Tuima, 12. Rachael Burford, 11. Danielle Waterman, 10. Katy Daley-Mclean, 9. Caity Mattinson; 1. Vickii Cornborough, 2. Amy Cokayne, 3. Sarah Bern, 4. Abbie Scott, 5. Poppy Cleall, 6. Rowena Burnfield, 7. Marlie Packer, 8. Sarah Hunter.
Replacements: 16. Lark Davies, 17. Rochelle Clark, 18. Justine Lucas, 19. Cath O’Donnell, 20. Shaunagh Brown, 21. Leanne Riley, 22. Zoe Harrison, 23. Amber Reed.

Ireland Women: 15. Hannah Tyrrell, 14. Megan Williams, 13. Katie Fitzhenry, 12. Sene Naoupu, 11. Louise Galvin, 10. Niamh Briggs, 9. Nicole Cronin; 1. Lindsay Peat, 2. Cliodhna Moloney, 3. Leah Lyons, 4. Aoife McDermott, 5. Paula Fitzpatrick, 6. Ashleigh Baxter, 7. Claire Molloy, 8. Ciara Griffin.
Replacements: 16. Ciara O'Connor, 17. Laura Feely, 18. Fiona Reidy, 19. Ciara Cooney, 20. Anna Caplice, 21. Ailsa Hughes, 22. Michelle Claffey, 23. Kim Flood.