Ulster Women, sponsored by The Errigle Inn, lost their opening Inter-Pro at home to Munster on Saturday afternoon at Kingspan Stadium, but the Ulster girls can be proud of a very competitive performance.
Women’s Inter-Provincial Series Round 1:
Ulster Women 3-16 Munster Women
While the visitors probably deserved the win, the score-line certainly didn’t reflect what was a very tough contest between two highly committed sides.
For the majority of the game there was very little between the sides and it took 24 minutes for the opening score of the game. Munster shifted the ball well from right to left and after several phases prop Leah Lyons bundled over from close range.
Ten minutes later a Claire McLaughlin break saw Ulster win a penalty 25m out, which Jemma Jackson calmly converted. It looked as though Ulster would go in at half-time just two points in arrears but an Ellen Murphy penalty put Munster 8-3 ahead at the break.
Ulster started the second half brightly with captain Gemma McCutcheon leading from the front, complemented by some fierce tackling from Ilse Van Staden and strong carrying by replacement Aishling O’Connell.
While Ulster looked threatening throughout, they were unable to transfer the pressure to scoreboard points and it was Munster who scored next through an Edel Murphy penalty with five minutes to go. With time running out, a cruel bounce deceived the Ulster cover to allow winger Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird to run in a try in the right corner on what proved to be the final play of the game.
Speaking after the game, Ulster coach Jarrett Truscott was noticeably proud of his side’s performance but still feels there is more to come from this team. He made a point of referencing the eight debutants in the squad, including four who have came straight in from the successful Ulster U18 Inter-Provincial winning team:
“I was really happy with how some of the younger girls in particular acquitted themselves today, they certainly showed that they weren’t out of their depth and they will be pivotal figures for us in the future. In the corresponding fixture last year Munster beat us 43-0 so on that basis you would have to think that we have made some improvements. But I’m not here for any moral victories. We went into that game today looking for the win, so we’re disappointed but there are certainly plenty of positives to take from it.”
In the other Inter-Pro game of the day, Connacht recorded an 8-5 victory over Leinster in Tuam, and Truscott feels that there is still plenty to play for:
“Leinster would’ve been considered as favourites for that game, so a Connacht win has just blown the whole series wide open. With our performance today, we know that we’re right up there along with the other provinces so we’re looking forward to getting back out again next week.”
Ulster will travel to Donnybrook next Saturday to take on Leinster in the second round of the series. Kick-off is 6.30pm.
Ulster team:
(15-9): Maeve Liston, Peita McAlister, Eliza Downey (vc), Claire McLaughlin, Amy Davis, Jemma Jackson, Kathryn Dane;
(1-8): Ilse Van Staden, Lesley Megarity, Sorcha Mac Laimhin, Naomi McCullagh, Hannah Beattie, Storm Cobain, Gemma McCutcheon (c), Lauren Maginnes.
Replacements (16-23): Brigid Collins, Shauna Martin, Beth Cregan, Aishling O’Connell, Vicky Irwin, Emma Jordan, Leah McGoldrick, Imogen Porter.
Munster team:
(15-9): Aine Staunton, Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird, Niamh Kavanagh, Nicola Scully, Eimear Considine, Valerie Power, Ellen Murphy;
(1-8): Fiona Reidy, Gill Bourke, Leah Lyons, Chloe Pearse, Orlaith Buckley, Siobhan Fleming, Anna Caplice, Heather O Brien.
Replacements (16-23): Zoe Grattage, Fiona Hayes, Nuala O Connor, Sara Hartigan, Christine Arthurs, Mona Fehily, Edel Murphy, Laura Sheehan.
Women’s Inter-Provincial Series Round 1:
Ulster Women 3-16 Munster Women
While the visitors probably deserved the win, the score-line certainly didn’t reflect what was a very tough contest between two highly committed sides.
For the majority of the game there was very little between the sides and it took 24 minutes for the opening score of the game. Munster shifted the ball well from right to left and after several phases prop Leah Lyons bundled over from close range.
Ten minutes later a Claire McLaughlin break saw Ulster win a penalty 25m out, which Jemma Jackson calmly converted. It looked as though Ulster would go in at half-time just two points in arrears but an Ellen Murphy penalty put Munster 8-3 ahead at the break.
Ulster started the second half brightly with captain Gemma McCutcheon leading from the front, complemented by some fierce tackling from Ilse Van Staden and strong carrying by replacement Aishling O’Connell.
While Ulster looked threatening throughout, they were unable to transfer the pressure to scoreboard points and it was Munster who scored next through an Edel Murphy penalty with five minutes to go. With time running out, a cruel bounce deceived the Ulster cover to allow winger Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird to run in a try in the right corner on what proved to be the final play of the game.
Speaking after the game, Ulster coach Jarrett Truscott was noticeably proud of his side’s performance but still feels there is more to come from this team. He made a point of referencing the eight debutants in the squad, including four who have came straight in from the successful Ulster U18 Inter-Provincial winning team:
“I was really happy with how some of the younger girls in particular acquitted themselves today, they certainly showed that they weren’t out of their depth and they will be pivotal figures for us in the future. In the corresponding fixture last year Munster beat us 43-0 so on that basis you would have to think that we have made some improvements. But I’m not here for any moral victories. We went into that game today looking for the win, so we’re disappointed but there are certainly plenty of positives to take from it.”
In the other Inter-Pro game of the day, Connacht recorded an 8-5 victory over Leinster in Tuam, and Truscott feels that there is still plenty to play for:
“Leinster would’ve been considered as favourites for that game, so a Connacht win has just blown the whole series wide open. With our performance today, we know that we’re right up there along with the other provinces so we’re looking forward to getting back out again next week.”
Ulster will travel to Donnybrook next Saturday to take on Leinster in the second round of the series. Kick-off is 6.30pm.
Ulster team:
(15-9): Maeve Liston, Peita McAlister, Eliza Downey (vc), Claire McLaughlin, Amy Davis, Jemma Jackson, Kathryn Dane;
(1-8): Ilse Van Staden, Lesley Megarity, Sorcha Mac Laimhin, Naomi McCullagh, Hannah Beattie, Storm Cobain, Gemma McCutcheon (c), Lauren Maginnes.
Replacements (16-23): Brigid Collins, Shauna Martin, Beth Cregan, Aishling O’Connell, Vicky Irwin, Emma Jordan, Leah McGoldrick, Imogen Porter.
Munster team:
(15-9): Aine Staunton, Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird, Niamh Kavanagh, Nicola Scully, Eimear Considine, Valerie Power, Ellen Murphy;
(1-8): Fiona Reidy, Gill Bourke, Leah Lyons, Chloe Pearse, Orlaith Buckley, Siobhan Fleming, Anna Caplice, Heather O Brien.
Replacements (16-23): Zoe Grattage, Fiona Hayes, Nuala O Connor, Sara Hartigan, Christine Arthurs, Mona Fehily, Edel Murphy, Laura Sheehan.