Beibhinn Parsons just etched her name in the record books, becoming Ireland women’s all-time try scorer as they battled their way to a hard-fought 31-24 win against Japan in the WXV Global Series. This wasn’t some easy stroll through Dexcom Stadium. Japan threw everything they had, forcing Ireland to *really* earn that victory after almost letting it slip away.
First Half Dominance, Then Japan Strikes
Man, Ireland came out absolutely firing in Galway! Brittany Hogan was a force, showing incredible persistence to cross the line from close range just ten minutes in. Tough conditions with a strong wind, but Ireland adjusted quick. It was a scrappy first half, but Hogan snagged another try after a sweet move from Aoibheann Reilly, extending Scott Bemand’s side’s lead. Then, a defensive mistake gifted Japan a chance, and Moe Nagaoka capitalized, crashing over for a late first-half try right after captain Erin King got a yellow card. Parsons herself had extended the lead earlier with a superb solo run in her hometown at 37 minutes. Ireland was up 19-5 at the break, but that late Japan try? A warning shot.
Parsons’ Record-Breaker and the Wild Japan Comeback
Japan, to their absolute credit, refused to quit, kicking off the second half with pure fire. Nagaoka snatched another try from a maul, immediately cutting into Ireland’s lead. Coach Scott Bemand had to be feeling some serious deja vu from that USA game, right? The one where they let a 19-point lead vanish? But his squad responded this time, showing real grit. Aoife Dalton, fresh off the bench, touched down just minutes later, a critical response! This game was end-to-end chaos, with Japan relentlessly pushing. Nijiho Nagata snagged their third try from a maul, keeping pressure red hot. That’s when Beibhinn Parsons stepped up HUGE again. She connected with McGann’s pass, went on another impressive run, and registered her 24th Test try. BOOM! All-time record breaker, pure brilliance when her team needed it most. O’Brien added the extras, giving Ireland much-needed breathing room. Nami Asari did narrow the lead again late, but Japan just couldn’t complete the stunning comeback. Ireland held on, 31-24.
What a game, what a win! Ireland absolutely *needed* that after letting that big lead disappear against the USA in their WXV Global Series opener. This response against Japan, fighting off a late charge and showing real composure, tells you a lot about this squad. They’ve gotta carry that fight and grit forward, because Japan proved tonight no lead is truly safe. Every point, every try, it all matters!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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