Parks spoils Ireland's Croker farewell

Dan Parks © Action Images

Australia born flyhalf Dan Parks kicked 18 points as Scotland ended Ireland's Triple Crown hopes with a 23-20 Six Nations win at Croke Park on Saturday.

Scotland's victory on the final day of the tournament was their first in this Six Nations and first in nine Championship meetings against Ireland, who so desperately wanted to say farewell to Croke Park with a victory.

Their first Six Nations success under coach Andy Robinson also meant Scotland avoided the wooden spoon in a match where Ireland scored two tries, through captain Brian O'Driscoll and wing Tommy Bowe, to one from Scottish No 8 Johnnie Beattie.

Scotland coach Andy Robinson was justifiably delighted to have secured a deserved victory after going close in a couple of previous matches.

"The guys should take a lot of credit for this. They're tired and hurting out there but they deserve this win. Were we lucky? Well I believe you make your own luck.

"This went to the wire, didn't it? I was glad we scored a try in the first-half and we maintained our composure throughout the match.

"Ireland played really well form the outset and I thought we could be on the wrong end of a 30 pointer. But we hung on in there."

Man-of-the-match Parks, so often the target of criticism by Scotland fans, added: "I think we've deserved a lot more than we've got in this championship.

"We came here full-blooded and we're absolutely delighted."

Ireland coach Declan Kidney was understandably dejected after his side's final match at Croke Park before they return to Lansdowne Road failed to go to plan. "You've got to give Scotland credit, they kept the scoreboard ticking over. We made errors all round the place.

"It's just so disappointing, the result, the venue, everything at stake," Kidney added.

Ireland, gunning for a fifth Triple Crown in seven seasons, were 7-17 down early in the second half only to stage a recovery that would have left Scotland fans fearing the worst after last weekend's 15-15 draw with England and their agonising 31-24 loss to Wales last month.

The hosts squared the game at 17-17 with 16 minutes left when neat play from O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy sent in Bowe for a try.

Replacement flyhalf Ronan O'Gara, introduced after starting stand-off Jonathan Sexton had another hit and miss day with his goalkicking, landed the difficult conversion to tie the match.

However, with eight minutes left, Ireland went offside some 30 metres out and Parks's sweetly struck penalty nudged Scotland 20-17 in front.

Moments later though, Scotland infringed at a scrum just outside their 22 and O'Gara squared the match at 20-20.

But the see-saw finale continued as Ireland's Rob Kearney was penalised for holding on in the tackle with less than two minutes left on the clock.

Parks's swerving penalty from wide on the left ultimately stayed true. Scotland were three points in front and on their way to a first win in Ireland since 1998.

Scotland had stunned Ireland by going 14-7 in front at half-time.

They took the lead in the sixth minute when Parks kicked a simple penalty after a frantic and imprecise Ireland infringed in their 22.

But Ireland hit back with the opening try of the match in the 11th minute. Sexton cleverly looped with D'Arcy and then fed to O'Driscoll. Sexton's final, inside, pass looked forward but O'Driscoll's try stood. Sexton converted and Ireland were 7-3 in front.

Scotland though rallied to score a try just minutes later.

Strong driving by forwards Ross Ford and Kelly Brown, as well as centre Graeme Morrison, took Scotland into Irish territory.

That led to a surging Beattie holding off the challenge of O'Connell before he stretched out to ground the ball.

And twice at the end of the opening period, Parks made sure Scottish visits to Irish territory were rewarded with a points, a penalty and a smartly taken 35 metre drop-goal on the stroke of half-time giving his side a seven point cushion.

Parks, after Sexton had missed early in the second half, struck from 40m out to extend Scotland's lead to 17-7.

Ireland though managed to retain possession and a strong driving ruck created another penalty opportunity in the 50th minute.

Sexton held his nerve and landed the penalty but that was his last act of the game as he was then replaced by O'Gara.

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