UPDATE: 6th February 2012 at 10pm

Tonight’s Against the Head has footage of Friday night’s match – skip to the 24 minute mark. (Frustratingly, despite the fact that an RTÉ crew were therefore actually at the game, it was neither broadcast nor streamed online, nor were there any highlights on RTÉ news bulletins, unlike the senior men and under 20s boys teams.)

/ Update

The Six Nations got off to a disappointing start yesterday evening, when the Ireland v Wales match at Ashbourne RFC was abandoned at half time.

We brought you tweets live from the game as it happened. Unfortunately due to the freezing conditions and hardening of the ground, and citing concerns for the health and safety of the players, referee Kevin White made the decision to abandon the game. Indeed, even before game began, the ground was hard and grass crunched underfoot.

Niamh Briggs, who’s kicking was flawless, with one conversion and one penalty, tweeted:

To say we are disappointed is an understatement! We live to fight another day.. We’ll regroup for next match.. Support was unreal

The IRFU has confirmed that the Six Nations committee will meet early next week to decide on a date for the match replay. An offer had been made to replay the match today, but Wales declined.

(Personally, I’m delighted. A replay today would have meant I’d have missed it. The Six Nations: it’s all about me, really.)

View a slideshow of images from last night’s game.

The game (or half a game) itself was impressive. Both teams were fairly evenly matched, with Wales playing well defensively. Ireland appeared to have an edge, however, reflected by the 10-3 scoreline at half time.

Despite being confined to the Wales half for some time, Ashleigh Baxter and Lynne Cantwell combined before Cantwell got the ball to Connacht’s Alison Miller. Miller capitalised, with a blistering run from deep inside the Wales half to the try line, touching down in the 18th minute.

Niamh Briggs easily made the conversion, to make it Ireland 7-0 Wales.

Ireland later conceded a penalty in front of the uprights, giving away an easy three points to Wales. At the end of the half, a penalty was awarded in Ireland’s favour, and Briggs stepped up again for the kick. Sending the ball over dead centre from an awkward angle, Briggs made earning the additional three points look easy. The score at half time: Ireland 10-3 Wales.

Standout players included: Alison Miller, with a fantastic run and try; Niamh Briggs, with impeccable kicking; Sophie Spence, including an impressive run in her debut for Ireland; captain Fiona Coghlan, with a cracking block of a Welsh kick near the visitors try line.

More:

• ScrumQueens match report
• IRFU match report
• IRFU match preview
• The Irish Times match report
• Irish Examiner match report (Breaking News)
• Irish Examiner match report
• BBC Sport three-liner
• Newstalk one-liner
• The Indo st00pid headliner
• RTÉ match report

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