IRELAND romped home to victory in Parma on Sunday afternoon as they ploughed through Italy in the second Six Nations fixture of the season.
Scott Bemand issued a battle try ahead of the match – and his troops delivered.
They coasted to a 54-12 hammering of Italy with an eight-try rout to earn their first win of this year’s competition.
Ireland’s eight included a hat-trick for winger Anna McGann, and a Player of the Match display from Aoife Dalton.
The latter crossed inside two minutes and played a key role in the backline’s dominance throughout the contest at Stadio Sergio Lanfranch.
Dalton’s opener came after an early Italian yellow card, and McGann quickly followed it up as Ireland raced into a 14-0 lead inside the first ten minutes.
Tries from Amee-Leigh Costigan and a second for McGann secured the bonus point before half-time, with Italy’s only response a solo effort from Sofia Stefan.
The hosts pushed back just before the break as they surged to try and halt the visitor’s momentum.
But Dalton’s heroic defensive effort to hold up a try proved a turning point, and From Ireland never looked back.
It went form good to glorious as Ireland ran riot in the second half.
Linda Djougang, Dorothy Wall and Brittany Hogan stretched the lead further as Ireland showed their relentless attacking prowess.
McGann wrapped up her hat-trick stunning hat-trick in the dying seconds of the Six Nations clash.
Out-half Dannah O’Brien – who missed all her kicks last week — nailed seven of eight conversions to cap a superb afternoon against Fabio Roselli’s side.
The Azzurri did grab a late consolation, Beatrice Rigoni added a score for the hosts but it was Ireland’s day in the Italian city.
Ireland now face England in Cork on April 12.
