Ulster Women, sponsored by Deloitte, fell to defeat at the hands of Leinster in the first round of the Women's Inter-Provincial Championship at Stradbrook on Friday night.
Despite a huge defensive effort from Ulster in the early stages of the game, the pressure eventually paid off at the end of the first quarter as Leinster flanker Juliet Short managed to get over in the left corner for the opening try.
The Ulster Women then grew into the game, with forwards Claire McLaughlin leading the charge, and wing Eliza Downey almost got in, only to be denied by try-saving tackle from Laran Farrell-McCabe, leaving the scoreline at 5-0 at the break.
Leinster once again started the second half the brighter, and Short got over for her second try of the game, as she grounded from the back of a maul. Ulster fought back once more with centre Maeve Liston in particular looking to punch holes in the Leinster defence.
However, a superb break by Michelle Claffey sent Ulster scrambling back and quick hands sent full-back Farrell-McCabe in for the converted try that would secure the win for Leinster.
Next up for Ulster is a home clash versus Munster on Sunday 9th September, kick-off 1.00pm at Portadown RFC.
Leinster Womens:
15. Lauren Farrell McCabe (Suttonians RFC)
14. Gemma Matthews (Old Belvedere RFC)
13. Michelle Claffey (Blackrock College RFC)
12. Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere RFC) CAPTAIN
11. Elise O’ Byrne White (Old Belvedere RFC)
10. Nikki Caughey (Railway Union RFC)
9. Ellen Murphy (Old Belvedere RFC)
1. Lindsay Peat (Railway Union RFC)
2. Emma Hooban (St Mary’s College RFC)
3. Katie O’Dwyer (Railway Union RFC)
4. Aoife McDermott (Railway Union RFC)
5. Meg Kendall (Railway Union RFC)
6. Jeamie Deacon (Blackrock College RFC)
7. Juliet Short (Railway Union RFC)
8. Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock College RFC)
16. Ann Marie Rooney (Blackrock College RFC)
17. Christy Haney (St Mary’s College RFC)
18. Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC)
19. Mairead Holohan (Blackrock College RFC)
20. Nicole Purdom (Suttonians RFC)
21. Niamh Griffin (Blackrock College RFC)
22. Nicole Carroll (Suttonians RFC)
23. Ray Lawless (Blackrock College RFC)
Ulster Womens:
15. Ella Durkan (Malone)
14. Eliza Downey (Cooke)
13. Maeve Liston (Ballyshannon)
12. Vicky Irwin (Cooke)
11. Emma Jordan (Cooke)
10. Jemma Jackson (Cooke)
9. Larissa Muldoon (Railway Union, Capt).
1. Ilse van Staden (Cooke)
2. Neve Jones (Malone)
3. Sorcha Mac Laimhin (Cooke)
4. Rebecca Lawlor (Malone)
5. Lauren Maginnes (Cooke)
6. Bethany McDowell (Malone).
7. Claire McLaughlin (Cooke)
8. Beth Cregan (Cooke)
16. Michelle Gormley-McLaughlin (City of Derry)
17. Aishling O’Connell (Cavan)
18. Shannon Heapes (Cooke)
19. Keelin Brady (Virginia)
20. Kathryn Hannah (Ballynahinch)
21. Peita McAlister (Malone)
22. Diane Ramsey (Queens University)
Despite a huge defensive effort from Ulster in the early stages of the game, the pressure eventually paid off at the end of the first quarter as Leinster flanker Juliet Short managed to get over in the left corner for the opening try.
The Ulster Women then grew into the game, with forwards Claire McLaughlin leading the charge, and wing Eliza Downey almost got in, only to be denied by try-saving tackle from Laran Farrell-McCabe, leaving the scoreline at 5-0 at the break.
Leinster once again started the second half the brighter, and Short got over for her second try of the game, as she grounded from the back of a maul. Ulster fought back once more with centre Maeve Liston in particular looking to punch holes in the Leinster defence.
However, a superb break by Michelle Claffey sent Ulster scrambling back and quick hands sent full-back Farrell-McCabe in for the converted try that would secure the win for Leinster.
Next up for Ulster is a home clash versus Munster on Sunday 9th September, kick-off 1.00pm at Portadown RFC.
Leinster Womens:
15. Lauren Farrell McCabe (Suttonians RFC)
14. Gemma Matthews (Old Belvedere RFC)
13. Michelle Claffey (Blackrock College RFC)
12. Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere RFC) CAPTAIN
11. Elise O’ Byrne White (Old Belvedere RFC)
10. Nikki Caughey (Railway Union RFC)
9. Ellen Murphy (Old Belvedere RFC)
1. Lindsay Peat (Railway Union RFC)
2. Emma Hooban (St Mary’s College RFC)
3. Katie O’Dwyer (Railway Union RFC)
4. Aoife McDermott (Railway Union RFC)
5. Meg Kendall (Railway Union RFC)
6. Jeamie Deacon (Blackrock College RFC)
7. Juliet Short (Railway Union RFC)
8. Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock College RFC)
16. Ann Marie Rooney (Blackrock College RFC)
17. Christy Haney (St Mary’s College RFC)
18. Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC)
19. Mairead Holohan (Blackrock College RFC)
20. Nicole Purdom (Suttonians RFC)
21. Niamh Griffin (Blackrock College RFC)
22. Nicole Carroll (Suttonians RFC)
23. Ray Lawless (Blackrock College RFC)
Ulster Womens:
15. Ella Durkan (Malone)
14. Eliza Downey (Cooke)
13. Maeve Liston (Ballyshannon)
12. Vicky Irwin (Cooke)
11. Emma Jordan (Cooke)
10. Jemma Jackson (Cooke)
9. Larissa Muldoon (Railway Union, Capt).
1. Ilse van Staden (Cooke)
2. Neve Jones (Malone)
3. Sorcha Mac Laimhin (Cooke)
4. Rebecca Lawlor (Malone)
5. Lauren Maginnes (Cooke)
6. Bethany McDowell (Malone).
7. Claire McLaughlin (Cooke)
8. Beth Cregan (Cooke)
16. Michelle Gormley-McLaughlin (City of Derry)
17. Aishling O’Connell (Cavan)
18. Shannon Heapes (Cooke)
19. Keelin Brady (Virginia)
20. Kathryn Hannah (Ballynahinch)
21. Peita McAlister (Malone)
22. Diane Ramsey (Queens University)