WORCESTER Rugby Club's teenage fly-half Alice Richardson couldn't quite lead England's academy side to victory in Dublin.

Richardson was spot on with the boot but England ultimately went down 25-19.

It was a windy afternoon and England played with that advantage in the first half and led 12-5 at half-time after tries by Natasha Fitt, of Saracens, and Emma Layland of Richmond. Worcester's Richardson converted one of the two scores.

Fitt scored the first try after 10 minutes, which Richardson converted, but Irish flanker Rachel Tucker hit back to make it 7-5.

Layland, though, extended the visitors' lead with a well-worked try.

In the second half, Ireland scored 20 points in 20 minutes before Fitt got her second try, which replacement Alice Lovett converted.

Disappointed

Ireland drew closer when fly-half Sarah Jane Belton kicked a penalty and they then took the lead when Blackrock scrum-half Tania Rosser scored.

Belton scored and converted her own try before Tucker got her second.

Despite the defeat, England coach Gary Street was impressed with the performance of his side.

"We are obviously disappointed to have lost, but I am pretty pleased with the performance," he said.

"We put out a young squad of 22 and I couldn't ask any more from the girls. Some of our handling was very encouraging and we continued to play for the full 80 minutes, even though we found it difficult to get out of our half when playing against the wind."

Teams:

Ireland: 15 Amanda Greensmith, 14 Nuala Ni Chadhain, 13 Suzanne Fleming, 12 Patrique Kelly,11 Lynne Cantwell,10 Sarah Jane Belton (captain), 9 Tania Rosser, 8 Joy Neville, 7 Rachel Boyd, 6 Rachel Tucker, 5 Jen Leacy, 4 Rosie Foley, 3 Edel Coen, 2 Jean Lonergan, 1 Fiona Coughlan, (vice-captain)

Replacements: 16 Maura Coulter, 17 Emma Stanley, 18 Germaine Healy, 19 Orla Brennan, 20 Louise Beamish, 21 Joanne O'Sullivan, 22 Christine Robb

England Academy: 15 Joanne Watmore, 14 Natasha Fitt, 13 Libby Fox, 12 Ellen Small, 11 Amber Penrith, 10 Alice Richardson, 9 Harriet Slynn, 8 Leah Carey, 7 Lois Moulding, 6 Sarah Hunter, 5 Natalie Binstead, 4 Emma Dresser (captain), 3 Mel McKenzie, 2 Emma Layland, 1 Sophie Hemming

Replacements: 16 Clare Steer, 17 Jenny Allum, 18 Gemma Paul, 19 Becky Essex, 20 Alice Lovett, 21 Claire Allan, 22 Georgina Roberts