Ulster U18 Girls came up against a confident Connacht U18 Girls side, who put in a dominant 11 try display at Malone RFC in the opening round of the PwC U18 Interpro Series.
In a competitive start to the match, Connacht showed attacking intent from the kick-off.
Ulster did well to thwart an attack from an early Connacht scrum, with Ballymoney RFC hooker, Yoanna Natovska, producing a great jackal to win a penalty.
Connacht opened the scoring nine minutes into the contest, after attacking in the Ulster 22 from a penalty advantage.
Connacht hooker, Millie Ager, hit a gap in the Ulster defence and the ball was recycled out wide to Connacht's winger, Elsie Yewlett, who produced a fine one-handed finish in the corner for an unconverted try.
Good work from Ulster lock, Rachel Easdon, turned the ball over, and Ulster went on their first attack into the Connacht 22.
Rachel Kelly kicked to the corner and the Ulster forwards geared up for the attacking set piece.
The lineout throw was on the money from Alana Scullion, and the Cooke RFC forward was able to join the maul and produce the finish from close range. The conversion was wide and so the scoreline was level at 5-5.
It was to be Ulster's sole try of the match, as Connacht went up another level.
Connacht scrum-half, Kitty Sweeney, was a threat throughout, and she showed great awareness to snipe through a gap in Ulster's defence for the away side's second score. The successful conversion from Fleming made the scoreline 5-12.
Connacht continued their dominant start to the match and attacked straight from the restart. The away side gained territory from the restart and looked to their forwards to charge towards the Ulster whitewash. Number eight, Isabella Garvey, scored their third, with a powerful leg drive from the pick and go. The conversion was missed and the score was now 5-17.
Ulster showed resilience under Connacht's constant pressure, with Cooke RFC's Maisie Bowden doing well to disrupt Connacht ball with her work around the breakdown and lineout.
Connacht's flanker, Rhea Sestak, would be the next to get on the scoresheet, scoring off the back of a well-worked lineout routine in the Ulster half. The scoreline was stretched out further with the successful conversion.
There would be a fifth before the break, with powerful centre, Ruth Conway, breaking the Ulster line and finishing. The successful conversion took the scoreline to 5-31 at the half-time break.
HT: Ulster U18 Girls 5-31 Connacht U18 Girls
Ulster were put under pressure from the kick-off, and despite best efforts, were driven back into their own 22.
Connacht full-back, Leah McNamara, got herself on the scoresheet after exploiting space in the backfield. The successful conversion made it 5-38.
Connacht were in full flow, and were ruthless with their ball possession against Ulster.
Yewlett scored her second of the match after a fine series of passing phases in Ulster's 22. The conversion was missed.
The impressive fly-half, Sally Fleming, then added a try after being put through a gap to finish under the posts. The conversion was successful.
The away side didn't let up, and further tries from Cairínn Kearns, Anna Cooley and Niamh Gannon added to the away side's victory margin.
A tough day at the office for an Ulster U18 Girls side who were under intense pressure for the majority of the contest.
Connacht showed their attacking threat throughout, scoring eleven tries to cap an impressive display.
FT: Ulster U18 Girls 5-67 Connacht U18 Girls
Scorers
Ulster U18 Girls: (5)
TRY: Scullion
Connacht U18 Girls: (67)
TRY: Yewlett (2), Sweeney, Garvey, Sestak, Conway, McNamara, Fleming, Kearns, Cooley, Gannon
CON: Fleming (6)
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Teams
Ulster U18 Girls:
- Alanna Scullion (Cooke RFC)
- Yoanna Natovska (Ballymoney RFC)
- Holly Stockman (Ballynahinch RFC)
- Rachel Easdon (Ballymena RFC)
- Maisie Bowden (Cooke RFC)
- Isabella Taylor (Ballymena RFC)
- Elsie Brown (Clogher Valley RFC)
- Charlotte Boyd (Clogher Valley)
- Rachel Douglas (Banbridge RFC)
- Rachel Kelly (Malone RFC)
- Anna Murray (Ballymena RFC)
- Olivia Kyle (Omagh RFC)
- Emily Irwin (Omagh RFC)
- Katelynn Magee (C) (Banbridge RFC)
- Cora Hayes (Cooke RFC)
Replacements
- Grace Fitzpatrick (Banbridge RFC)
- Erin Playfair (Donaghadee RFC)
- Isabella Copeland (Banbridge RFC)
- Erin McCay (Cooke RFC)
- Olivia Beggs (Carrickfergus RFC)
- Ava Fegan (Omagh RFC)
- Joy Lemon (Donaghadee RFC)
- Charlotte Thompson (Ballymoney RFC)
Connacht U18 Girls:
1. Róise Ní Scanláin (Tuam/Oughterard RFC), 2. Millie Ager (Claremorris Colts RFC), 3. Cairínn Kearns (Gort/Monivea RFC), 4. Anna Murphy (Castlebar RFC), 5. Aoibhinn Lyons (Westport RFC), 6. Orla Palasz (Westport RFC), 7. Rhea Sestak (Loughrea RFC), 8. Isabella Garvey (Sligo Rugby), 9. Kitty Sweeney (Westport RFC) Captain, 10. Sally Fleming (Buccaneers RFC), 11. Niamh Gannon (Tuam/Oughterard RFC), 12. Ruth Conway (Westport RFC), 13. Esther Albert (Ballinasloe RFC), 14. Elsie Yewlett (Sligo Rugby),15. Leah McNamara (Westport RFC)
Replacements:
16. Losalia Atonio (Tuam/Ougherard RFC), 17. Amy Moran (Loughrea RFC), 18. Kate Madden (Creggs RFC), 19. Cora Heneghan (Buccaneers RFC), 20. Poppy Tunney Ware (Westport RFC), 21. Rose Fleming (Buccaneers RFC), 22. Chloe O'Connor (Buccaneers RFC), 23. Anna Cooley (Gort/Monivea RFC)
