Leinster ran out winners by 22 points to 7 over Ulster in the second round of the U18 Girls Inter-Provincial Series on Sunday, in what was a superb example of running rugby.
The game started with the usual flurry of rucks and marginal errors as the girls settled down into their normal pattern of play. Leinster were the first to make good from an Ulster mistake and ran in a try close to the posts after 5 minutes. This was converted to give the visitors a 7 point lead.
It was another Ulster mistake that gave the Leinster team the opening for the second try close to the touch line, leaving it 0-12 at the 15-minute mark.
This spurred Ulster into action and with a series of phases, they worked their way up the pitch. Skipper, Katie Hetherington made a break, Lisa Mullen at outhalf released her backs and they got to within 5 metres. Ruth Gilsenan got across the line but was held up. Ulster won the 5 metre scrum and spread it out to the backs. Kelly McCormill cut inside and got to within 10 metres, the forwards took over and edged their way closer to the line. Ava Fannin took the ball at speed and burst over the line beside the posts. Lisa Mullen added the conversation, making the half-time score 7-12 in favour of Leinster.
The second half started lively, with Ulster spreading the ball from touch line to touch line. The forwards carried the ball up the middle, then gave the space to the backs to make real ground. Leinster were however not going to roll over; Amanda McQuade and Kelly McCormill had their tackling skills tested as the visitors put their own phases together. The back row of Ciara Byers, Katie Hetherington and Lucy Turkington kept the visitors under control with superb tackling and disrupting the rucks. It was ultimately an Ulster mistake that gave the opening to Leinster to score their third try, with their full back making 40 metres up the pitch, while their fourth try came from a well worked lineout, followed by a maul with got to within 4 metres of the Ulster try line. The flanker broke from around the side and scored close to the touch line.
Overall it was a good performance from the home side, with fine margins being the only difference between these two teams. Next up for the Ulster girls is the final round of the series versus Munster on Saturday 15th September (2.45pm) at MU Barnhall.
Ulster U18 Girls team:
(15-9): Ruth Gilsenan (Virginia RFC), Sophie Kinghan (Monaghan RFC), Amanda McQuade (Virginia RFC), Kelly McCormill (VC) (Monaghan RFC), Emma Ryan (Virginia RFC), Lisa Mullen (Virginia RFC), Amber Redmond (Virginia RFC);
(1-8): Ella Garland (Monaghan RFC), Aoife Cahill (Malone RFC), Ava Fannin (Virginia RFC), Sorcha Higgins (Virginia RFC), Naomi McCord (Malone RFC), Lucy Turkington (Dungannon RFC), Katie Hetherington (Capt) (Clogher Valley RFC), Ciara Byers (Virginia RFC).
Replacements: Cara O'Neill (Malone RFC), Delyth Cook (Ballyclare RFC), Hannah Cooney (Malone RFC), Fern Wilson (Malone RFC), India Daley (Enniskillen RFC), Zoe Rafferty (City of Armagh RFC), Zara Flack (Enniskillen RFC), Suzi Antonia McCartney (Larne RFC).
The game started with the usual flurry of rucks and marginal errors as the girls settled down into their normal pattern of play. Leinster were the first to make good from an Ulster mistake and ran in a try close to the posts after 5 minutes. This was converted to give the visitors a 7 point lead.
It was another Ulster mistake that gave the Leinster team the opening for the second try close to the touch line, leaving it 0-12 at the 15-minute mark.
This spurred Ulster into action and with a series of phases, they worked their way up the pitch. Skipper, Katie Hetherington made a break, Lisa Mullen at outhalf released her backs and they got to within 5 metres. Ruth Gilsenan got across the line but was held up. Ulster won the 5 metre scrum and spread it out to the backs. Kelly McCormill cut inside and got to within 10 metres, the forwards took over and edged their way closer to the line. Ava Fannin took the ball at speed and burst over the line beside the posts. Lisa Mullen added the conversation, making the half-time score 7-12 in favour of Leinster.
The second half started lively, with Ulster spreading the ball from touch line to touch line. The forwards carried the ball up the middle, then gave the space to the backs to make real ground. Leinster were however not going to roll over; Amanda McQuade and Kelly McCormill had their tackling skills tested as the visitors put their own phases together. The back row of Ciara Byers, Katie Hetherington and Lucy Turkington kept the visitors under control with superb tackling and disrupting the rucks. It was ultimately an Ulster mistake that gave the opening to Leinster to score their third try, with their full back making 40 metres up the pitch, while their fourth try came from a well worked lineout, followed by a maul with got to within 4 metres of the Ulster try line. The flanker broke from around the side and scored close to the touch line.
Overall it was a good performance from the home side, with fine margins being the only difference between these two teams. Next up for the Ulster girls is the final round of the series versus Munster on Saturday 15th September (2.45pm) at MU Barnhall.
Ulster U18 Girls team:
(15-9): Ruth Gilsenan (Virginia RFC), Sophie Kinghan (Monaghan RFC), Amanda McQuade (Virginia RFC), Kelly McCormill (VC) (Monaghan RFC), Emma Ryan (Virginia RFC), Lisa Mullen (Virginia RFC), Amber Redmond (Virginia RFC);
(1-8): Ella Garland (Monaghan RFC), Aoife Cahill (Malone RFC), Ava Fannin (Virginia RFC), Sorcha Higgins (Virginia RFC), Naomi McCord (Malone RFC), Lucy Turkington (Dungannon RFC), Katie Hetherington (Capt) (Clogher Valley RFC), Ciara Byers (Virginia RFC).
Replacements: Cara O'Neill (Malone RFC), Delyth Cook (Ballyclare RFC), Hannah Cooney (Malone RFC), Fern Wilson (Malone RFC), India Daley (Enniskillen RFC), Zoe Rafferty (City of Armagh RFC), Zara Flack (Enniskillen RFC), Suzi Antonia McCartney (Larne RFC).