The Royal School Dungannon have won the 2017 Danske Bank Ulster Girls Schools' Cup, thanks to a thrilling 10 tries to 8 victory over Grosvenor Grammar School at Kingspan Stadium on Monday afternoon.

The game got off to a flying start with Dungannon’s Zoe Henderson crossing for the opening try after just three minutes. Grosvenor responded in impressive fashion with a try from Sophie Larmour a minute later, followed by further tries from Annie McKirgan and Holly Brannigan.

However, tries from Emily Carson and Zoe Henderson pegged back Grosvenor’s lead, leaving the score-line reading 3 tries each at half-time.

The side’s wasted little time in the second-half, with Sophie Larmour touching down for her second try just two minutes after the restart, before the impressive Zoe Henderson completed her hat-trick thirty seconds later.

Annie McKirgan’s try on twenty-four minutes nudged Grosvenor back in front again, but it would be the last time the Belfast side would lead in the game, as Dungannon went on a scoring blitz, touching down for five successive tries in a seven minute period; the scores coming from Lucy Turkington, Laura Saunders, Sarah Shrestha, Katie Burns and Holly Henderson.

Fern Wilson temporarily halted proceedings with Grosvenor’s sixth try on thirty-four minutes but Sarah Shrestha notched her second try to open a 10-6 lead for Dungannon as the game approached the final few minutes.

Grosvenor’s Anna Stanfield managed two late tries, but they were only to prove as consolation scores, as The Royal School Dungannon ran out deserved winners.

While the Royal School Dungannon will take home the spoils, tribute must also be paid to Grosvenor Grammar School who played their part in what was a fantastic advertisement for girls schools’ rugby.

Score timeline:

3’ RSD try Zoe Henderson
4’ GGS try Sophie Larmour
7’ GGS try Annie McKirgan
12’ GGS try Holly Brannigan
14’ RSD try Emily Carson
16’ RSD try Zoe Henderson

Half-time: Grosvenor GS 3-3 Royal School Dungannon

22’ GGS try Sophie Larmour
23’ RSD try Zoe Henderson
24’ GGS try Annie McKirgan
25’ RSD try Lucy Turkington
28’ RSD try Laura Saunders
29' RSD try Sarah Shrestha
31' RSD try Katie Burns
32' RSD try Holly Henderson
34' GGS try Fern Wilson
37' RSD try Sarah Shrestha
38' GGS try Anna Stanfield
39' GGS try Anna Stanfield

Full-time: Grosvenor GS 8-10 Royal School Dungannon

Grosvenor Grammar School:
Bethany McDowell (C), Annie McKirgan, Niamh Bell, Hannah Blair, Emma Kee, Fern Wilson, Jessica Patterson, Anna Stanfield, Holy Brannigan, Sophie Larmour, Emma McDowell, Grace McCluney, Hannah Murphy, Claire McKane, Jessica Sayer, Louise McAnea, Laura Todd.

Royal School Dungannon:
Hannah Scott-Burows, Grace Shrestha (C), Holly Henderson, Sarah Shrestha, Lucy Turkington, Zoe Henderson, Katie Burns, Aoife Hagan, Laura Saunders, Emily Carson, Sophie Khan, Lucy Stewart, Morgan Jenkins, Tiffany McDonald, Becky Boyd, Katie Brown.

Royal School Dungannon win Ulster Girls Schools' Cup

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