Leinster proved too strong for Ulster in the Vodafone interprovincial Championship clash at the Affidea Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The eastern province ran in 11 tries over the 80 minutes to book a place in next week’s final in Dexcom Stadium.
Ulster must now regroup and refocus ahead of their 3/4th place play-off next week, also in Dexcom Stadium.
Leinster set their stall out from the get-go, and with just over a minute on the clock, winger Robyn O’Connor skipped down the right flank for the first of her five tries.
Ellie O’Sullivan-Sexton kicked an excellent conversion from out wide, and Leinster were off to a great start.
It got better for the visitors seven minutes later when the Blues moved the ball from right to left where Vicky Elmes Kinlkan went over to give Leinster a 12-0 lead.
Ulster then began to enjoy some go-forward ball, and they caught Leinster on the hop in the 11th minute when Olivia McKinney took a quick penalty to go over from close range for her first senior try.
However, unfortunately for Ulster, the Leinster reply was swift and ruthless.
Within 10 minutes Leinster’s O’Connor crossed the Ulster line two more times to complete a stunning first half hat-trick.
With the bonus-point already secured, Leinster were keen for more scores and on the half-hour, scrumhalf Katie Whelan went over for try number five.
O’Sullivan-Sexton closed out the opening half with her fourth successful conversion to hand her side a comfortable lead at the break.
Half-time: Ulster 5-33 Leinster
Leinster extended their lead further in the 42nd minute when Whelan picked off an Ella Durkan pass and race home from halfway, and just 10 minutes later Whelan was in under the posts again to claim a hat-trick for herself following O’Connor’s three-try salvo in the first half.
Leinster refused to take their foot off the pedal and before O’Connor ran in her fourth try of the day, second row Ruth Campbell got over for a score in theb 63rd minute. O’Sullivan-Sexton converted both scores to leave her side with an unassailable lead going into the closing stages.
Nikki Gibson then got her name on the scoresheet, before the final word was left to Leinster’s international wing O’Connor who beat the Ulster cover on the outside to claim her fifth try of the day.
Full-time: Ulster 5-75 Leinster
Scorers:
Ulster:
Tries: McKinney,
Leinster:
Tries: O’Connor (5), Elmes Kinlan, Whelan (3), Campbell, Gibson.
Con: O’Sullivan-Sexton (10)
Teams:
Ulster: 15. Niamh Marley, 14. Caitlin Crowe, 13. Leah Irwin, 12. Siobhan Sheerin, 11. Lucy Thompson, 10. Ella Durkan, 9. Rachael McIlroy, 1. Sadhbh McGrath, 2. Maebh Clenaghan, 3. Sophie Barrett, 4. Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan, 5. Olivia McKinney, 6. Moya Hill, 7. Rebecca Beacom, 8. Claire Boles.
Replacements: 16. Emily Whittle, 17. Bronach Cassidy, 18. Grace Simati, 19. Christy Hill, 20. Stacey Sloan, 21. Georgia Boyce, 22. Katie Gilmour. 23. Abby Moyles.
Leinster: 15. Stacey Flood, 14. Robyn O’Connor, 13. Aoife Dalton, 12. Eve Higgins, 11. Vicky Elmes Kinlan, 10. Ellie O’Sullivan-Sexton, 9. Katie Whelan, 1. Caoimhe Molly, 2. Sarah Delaney, 3. Linda Djougang, 4. Ruth Campbell, 5. Alma Atagamen, 6. Regan Casey, 7. Kathy Baker, 8. Erin King.
Replacements: 16. Emma Jane Wilson, 17. Hannah Wilson, 18. Hope Lowney, 19. Kate Jordan, 20. Nikki Gibson, 21. Alex Connor, 22. Niamh Murphy, 23. Amy Larn.