WEXFORD PAIR ROBYN O’Connor and Katie Whelan amassed eight tries between them as Leinster routed Ulster 75-5 to advance to the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship final.
Needing a bonus-point win to book their place in next Saturday’s Galway decider against Munster, 11-try Leinster proved far too strong for a gallant Ulster team at Affidea Stadium.
Two years on from her try-scoring debut for her province in Belfast, Ireland starlet O’Connor served up an eye-catching trio of tries inside the opening 21 minutes.
Vicky Elmes Kinlan and Whelan also touched down as Leinster led 33-5 by half-time, with Olivia McKinley’s try on her first start raising Ulster’s spirits.
Deputising for Dannah O’Brien in the number 10 jersey, Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton impressed throughout, kicking 20 points from the tee and combining well with both Whelan and Alex Connor.
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Lively scrum-half Whelan claimed a stylish hat-trick despite Erin King’s 50th-minute sin-binning for interfering with Moya Hill at a line out.
Ulster conceded over 60 points for the second week running, as Player of the Match Ruth Campbell and replacement Nikki Gibson got on the scoresheet, and O’Connor finished with a handsome five-try haul.
The free-scoring performance sets up a fourth Leinster-Munster final pairing in as many years, and gives the Blues, who lost 39-19 to their arch rivals in the opening round, a chance to avenge last year’s final defeat.
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Wexford pair combine for eight tries as Leinster thump Ulster to reach interpro final
Ulster 5
Leinster 75
WEXFORD PAIR ROBYN O’Connor and Katie Whelan amassed eight tries between them as Leinster routed Ulster 75-5 to advance to the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship final.
Needing a bonus-point win to book their place in next Saturday’s Galway decider against Munster, 11-try Leinster proved far too strong for a gallant Ulster team at Affidea Stadium.
Two years on from her try-scoring debut for her province in Belfast, Ireland starlet O’Connor served up an eye-catching trio of tries inside the opening 21 minutes.
Vicky Elmes Kinlan and Whelan also touched down as Leinster led 33-5 by half-time, with Olivia McKinley’s try on her first start raising Ulster’s spirits.
Deputising for Dannah O’Brien in the number 10 jersey, Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton impressed throughout, kicking 20 points from the tee and combining well with both Whelan and Alex Connor.
Lively scrum-half Whelan claimed a stylish hat-trick despite Erin King’s 50th-minute sin-binning for interfering with Moya Hill at a line out.
Ulster conceded over 60 points for the second week running, as Player of the Match Ruth Campbell and replacement Nikki Gibson got on the scoresheet, and O’Connor finished with a handsome five-try haul.
The free-scoring performance sets up a fourth Leinster-Munster final pairing in as many years, and gives the Blues, who lost 39-19 to their arch rivals in the opening round, a chance to avenge last year’s final defeat.
Scorers for Ulster
Try: Olivia McKinley
Scorers for Leinster
Tries: Robyn O’Connor 5, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Katie Whelan 3, Ruth Campbell, Nikki Gibson
Cons: Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton 10
ULSTER: Niamh Marley; Caitlin Crowe, Leah Irwin, Siobhán Sheerin, Lucy Thompson; Ella Durkan, Rachael McIlroy; Sadhbh McGrath, Maebh Clenaghan, Sophie Barrett, Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan, Olivia McKinley, Moya Hill, Rebecca Beacom, Claire Boles (capt).
Replacements: Emily Whittle, Bronach Cassidy, Grace Simati, Christy Hill, Stacey Sloan, Georgia Boyce, Katie Gilmour, Abby Moyles.
LEINSTER: Stacey Flood; Robyn O’Connor, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins, Vicky Elmes Kinlan; Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton, Katie Whelan; Caoimhe Molloy, Sarah Delaney (capt), Linda Djougang, Ruth Campbell, Alma Atagamen, Regan Casey, Kathy Baker, Erin King.
Replacements: Emma Jane Wilson, Hannah Wilson, Hope Lowney, Kate Jordan, Nikki Gibson, Alex Connor, Niamh Murphy, Amy Larn.
Referee: John Purcell (IRFU).
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Rout Rugby women's interpros Women's Interprovincial Championship