Sunday 28 February 2016 09:35, UK
England Women are three from three in the Six Nations after fighting back from behind to defeat Ireland 13-9 in a hard-fought encounter at Twickenham.
Hooker Emma Croker and lock Abbie Scott both scored tries for the table toppers and fly-half Amber Reed kicked a penalty.
Full-back Niamh Briggs kicked three penalties for the visitors, who led 9-8 in the second half but could not hold on to their advantage.
England came into the match in good heart, following victories over Scotland (32-0) and Italy (33-24).
Reed booted England into the lead with a three-pointer after nine minutes and Croker then extended the advantage when she touched down from the back of a rolling maul.
However, Reed failed to add the conversion and Briggs got Ireland on the board with her first penalty after 35 minutes.
She added a second before the break to make it 8-6 at the interval and then kicked the Irish into the lead eight minutes into the second half.
And England did not help their cause 10 minutes later, when No 8 Harriet Millar-Mills was sin-binned.
However, the hosts made light of their numerical disadvantage and reclaimed the lead four minutes later as Scott raced over from close range, having picked up the ball at the back of a ruck after a nice passing move down the right-hand side.
That made it 13-9 but Reed again failed to convert and then missed with an ambitious penalty attempt with 12 minutes left.
But England held on to claim a tense success and the world champions climbed above France, who are away at Wales on Sunday.
Ireland have topped the table in two of the last three years but have now lost twice in a row and remain in third place.
