Ireland make it three wins from three with Welsh victory

DUBLIN :Grand slam-chasing Ireland made it three bonus-point Six Nations wins from three against Wales at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, racking up their 18th successive home win in the process with a 31-7 victory.

The hosts dominated the first half and led by 17-0 at the break thanks to tries from Dan Sheehan and James Lowe. A penalty try for Wales and yellow card for Ireland's Tadhg Beirne just after halftime threatened to make things interesting.

Ireland were a lot more ragged in the second half and the game remained competitive until Ciaran Frawley marked an impressive first start with a debut try on 67 minutes and Beirne added the bonus-point try at the death as Wales sank to their 10th defeat in their last 11 Six Nations game.

"You're always chasing an immaculate performance but we know we're not going to do that every time... You don't turn your nose up at five points in this competition," Ireland captain Peter O'Mahony said in a pitchside interview.

While the second half and another high penalty count may disappoint coach Andy Farrell, Ireland's start was familiar as they looked to use the ball at lightning speed while snuffing out any Welsh possession.

The visitors' high defensive line held firm for 20 minutes to keep the deficit to three points in the face of 75 per cent Irish possession, but the dam broke on the 21st with an opening try that also had a ring of familiarity.

Having just lost his first Irish lineout this year, hooker Sheehan used the next one to attack the line with the help of almost all his teammates and crashed over to stretch his lead as the Six Nations top try scorer with his fourth in three games.

Against England, Wales did not give away a single penalty in the first half. In Dublin they conceded