Ireland 37 Kazakhstan 3
Ireland were comfortable victors over Kazakhstan in their final pool game but just fell short of making the World Cup semi-finals for the first time as they lost out on points difference.
The victory meant Ireland, Canada and Australia all finished level on ten points in the table but an inferior points difference meant Ireland fell short with the Australians eventually going through to the final four alongside New Zealand and France who had qualified earlier in the morning.
Ireland kicked off knowing they needed 60 points or more to have any chance of making it to the semis as well as hoping that South Africa would not lose badly to Australia.
By the time Ireland kicked off, Australia were already 10-0 up against South Africa but the Irish made a blistering start when Eliza Downey went on a early run and helped set up Niamh Briggs for the first try after just a minute.
Kazakhstan then enjoyed a period of dominance when first Irina Amossova had a nice dart down the touchline and then centre Amina Baratova made 20 yards on a burst. Ireland were forced to defend which is exactly how they didn't want to spend the first half and though Kazakhstan never really looked like scoring, their spell of possession ate up valuable minutes as Australia continued to take South Africa apart on the adjoining pitch.
Finally the second Irish score came though as a nice maul saw Joy Neville drive over and Briggs put over a super convert for a 12-0 lead. Kazakhstan were then down to 14 players after flyhalf Anna Yakovleva was carded for consistent infringements and Ireland made their opponents pay immediately when Louise Beamish scrambled over the line for another score.
Orla Brennan then got Ireland's fourth try and bonus point after a lovely break from Jo'O Sullivan put her away. Kazakhstan replied with their first points of the tournament when Aigerym Daurembayeva kicked a penalty and the score at halftime was 22-3.
Eliza Downey got the second half off to a good start for the Irish with a try after just a minute as Ireland knew they needed to start racking up the points.
Kazakhstan though were now throwing the towel in and a burst from Daurembayev almost led to a score with Ireland's scrambling defence just doing enough to clear the danger.
As Australia continued to dominate on the pitch next door, Ireland's continued to make hard work of turning their dominance into points as the Kazakhs did their best to make life difficult at the breakdown. It was frustrating for the travelling Irish fans who could see who the better team was but Kazakhstan were desperate to avoid another pasting after suffering too heavy losses in their first two games.
Ireland's frustrations were further compounded when they lost flyhalf Helen Brosnan to injury but eventually they broke through with lock Kate O'Loughlin pushing the score out to 32-4.
Joy Neville then got her fourth try in two games as she crashed over to make sure Ireland ended on a high.
Despite not making the semi-finals, Ireland now have an excellent chance at finishing higher at a World Cup than they ever have before with 5th place still in their sights.
IRELAND WOMEN: Niamh Briggs; Amy Davis, Joanne O'Sullivan, Lynne Cantwell, Eliza Downey; Helen Brosnan, Louise Beamish; Fiona Coghlan (capt), Gillian Bourke, Louise Austin, Kate O'Loughlin, Marie Louise Reilly, Orla Brennan, Claire Molloy, Joy Neville.
Replacements used: Carol Staunton for Brennan (50 mins), Sinead Ryan for Molloy (53), Yvonne Nolan for Austin (56), Shannon Houston for Brosnan, Mairead Kelly for Davis (both 60), Laura Guest for Coghlan, Jackie Shiels for Briggs (both 72).
KAZAKHSTAN WOMEN: Aigerym Daurembayeva; Olga Sazonova, Valentina Nezbudey, Amina Baratova, Irina Amossova; Anna Yakovleva (capt), Anastassiya Khamova; Natalya Kamendrovskaya, Tatyana Ashikhmina, Olga Nikulich, Svetlana Karatygina, Olga Kumanikina, Alfiya Mustafina, Olessya Teryayeva, Irina Radzivil.
Replacements used: Marianna Balashova for Radzivil (31 mins), Farida Kalen for Ashikhmina (36), Tatyana Tur for Baratova (half-time), Svetlana Klyuchnikova for Khamova (61), Tatyana Pshenichnaya for Daurembayeva (64), Symbat Zhamankulova for Kumanikina, Kundyzay Baktybayeva for Mustafina (both 78).
Referee: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
