The Combined Provinces have made it a clean sweep in the Celtic Challenge series as two late tries edged them past a strong Thistles side in DAM Health Stadium.

A late penalty try and a second of the afternoon by Enya Breen ensured the provinces took another series win, crowned champions last weekend they got another big test this afternoon ahead of the Women's Six Nations.

They had amassed a 14-0 lead in the early stages of the opening half but back came the Thistles and it was just two at the break, Aoife Wafer, Deirbhile Nic an Bhaird crossed in the opening half with Breen adding two in the second, plenty of positives from the performance.

It was a dream start by the Irish side, some early pressing asked serious questions of the Thistles backline, countless phases of play transpired as the ball crossed from left to right as the Irish looked for an opening, they got over but were held up, following a goal line drop again, the pressure kept going, in the end on the right channel Aoife Wafer received a pass, it looked forward but a gap opened and she blitzed in for the opening try, Dannah O’Brien giving them a seven nil scoreline by the sixth minute.

The hosts went up the other end in search of a score but the trademark solid defensive shape of the Irish proved a challenge early, turning defence into attack has been part and parcel of the Irish play style with Deirbhile Nic an Bhaird and Maeve Og O’Leary just two players that can change the game in a flash.

After a few minutes they were back knocking on the Thistles door, again they looked over but a strong defence saw the Thistles break down the left wing and thankfully bodies were back to prevent the Provinces conceding, going up the other end carrying well the Thistles were carved open and underneath the posts went Nic an Bhaird for the second try after 15 minutes, O’Brien’s extra two doubled their advantage.

Just five minutes later the Thistles were over, having flooded players in front of the Irish line they had serious pressure applied, held shy Wafer touched down inside her goal line,  but the pressure never went away a clever step by Meryl Smith got her a gap and crossing the whitewash had the hosts on the board in the 21st minute, her conversion as accurate and game back on, punishing some slight confusion from the Irish side.

After that score the pressure remained applied by both teams, in the early stages it looked like the Provinces were about to run riot similar to the tie in Belfast, but the Thistles did well despite their defence being stretched, having had their backs to the walls they did well to prevent another Irish score, the minutes had ticked by scoring chances few and far between.

In the blink of an eye the Thistles broke on the counter from a scrum on their 10m line, Shona Campbell made a great initial carry, they looked to have lost possession by Nikki Simposj with a terrific carry burst away, she offloaded to prop Elliann Clarke turning defence into attack in an eye, the prop put the burners on and raced over for the second try, bulldozing the Irish challenge that was in the way just before she crossed, the conversion missed and the Challenge Champions remained ahead.

After the restart it was again a close fought battle, the Irish played well on the front foot but handling errors saw their charges reduced to zero and the Thistles back in possession, a sensational crossfield kick put them on the counter attack, the bounce was kind as it allowed Thompson together, Ireland had little numbers back and on the left wing Francesca McGhie was there and her electric pace saw her evade Natasja Bhean to cross for their third try, the conversion was successful and the hosts moved ahead by five.

However just five minutes later back came the Provinces, getting to the opposite end of the field, Nic anBhaird drove at the heart of the Thistles defence, she was halted, Linda Djougang went next but another error saw the Thistles awarded a scrum, however the Irish pressure would come to fruition, edging close again to the line, Enya Breen powered over on her first appearance in the series, O’Brien converted her third of the day and back into the lead went the visitors by just two points.

It would be the provinces day, McGhie binned for an intentional knock on to stop Ella Roberts getting an offload in the 71st minute, the referee awarded a penalty try and the lead pushed out to 28-19, then five minutes left and Breen bagged her brace, a bounce favoured the inside centre as the Thistles could not clear their lines and the fifth try put the game to bed, the visitors 14 to the good.

Lucy MacRae managed to break through in the final seconds and as it looked like she had been beaten in the foot race, the referee blew the whistle and warded a penalty try to the hosts the last act of the tie.