WXV3: Ireland edge out Spain in tight encounter to claim inaugural title win in third-tier of new competition
Written by I Dig SportsIreland staged an impressive second-half fightback to edge out Spain in a fiercely-contested encounter and claim the inaugural WXV3 title.
Tries from Grace Moore and Neve Jones, both from a rolling maul, meant the Irish came back from 13-3 down at the break to win 15-13 in Dubai.
Claudia Pena scored an early try for Spain, who could have won the title themselves with a victory.
Both sides went into the game having won their first two matches.
Ireland's win means they can no longer be caught having taken 14 points from three WXV games, three more than second-placed Fiji and four more than Spain, who dropped to third.
Ireland: Meabh Deely, Natasja Behan, Eve Higgins, Aoife Dalton, Beibhinn Parsons, Dannah O'Brien, Molly Scuffil-McCabe; Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Christy Haney, Dorothy Wall, Sam Monaghan, Grace Moore, Edel McMahon, Brittany Hogan.
Replacements: Ciara Nelson, Niamh O'Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath, Eimear Corri, Aoife Wafer, Aoibheann Reilly, Nicole Fowley, Leah Tarpey.
More to follow.