MUNSTER WERE MERCILESS in their pursuit of tries as they crushed Ulster 62-0 in the second round of the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship.
Last year’s champions outclassed their opponents at Virgin Media Park, racking up 10 tries for their second bonus-point win and comfortable qualification for the final on 29 August.
Two tries each from Beth Buttimer and player-of-the-match Clodagh O’Halloran, adding to Chisom Ugwueru’s electric ninth-minute opener, had Munster leading 31-0 at half-time.
Enya Breen was back on form with her place-kicking, adding three conversions, as Ulster, despite the return of captain India Daley, struggled to slow down Munster’s attacking tempo.
Matt Brown’s side were relentless at times, adding further tries from Katie Corrigan, Emily Lane, stand-in captain Aoife Corey, Alana McInerney, and newcomer Andrea Murphy.
Replacement Caitríona Finn tagged on three conversions, helping them to push past the 60-point mark. Munster visit Connacht next Saturday, while Ulster are back in Belfast to host Leinster.
The Reds were able to disrupt Ulster’s first two lineouts, including an O’Halloran steal, and control the early possession until Abby Moyles’ rip in a tackle.
Niamh Marley’s turnover penalty typified Ulster’s resistance, but Ugwueru then cut them open out wide, fending off both Marley and Katie Gilmour before breaking through Moyles’ tackle for a superb solo try.
Following Breen’s crisp conversion from the left, the title-holders flexed their muscles from a maul, with Buttimer stopped short before O’Halloran squeezed over to make it 12-0.
Munster's Caitrona Finn takes a conversion kick. Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
Grace Moore, regularly making metres with her carries, went close after Munster had won a 21st-minute scrum against the head. Possession was retained for Buttimer to burrow over, with Breen precise from the tee.
Ireland internationals Sadhbh McGrath and Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan carried well as Ulster, on the back of a penalty outside the Munster 22, pressed for a response until Ugwueru forced a knock-on from Moyles.
Back within striking distance in the 31st minute, Munster clinically claimed their bonus point. Lucia Linn neatly tidied up a partially-blocked Breen kick, and the forwards took over, Buttimer twisting out of a tackle to grab her sixth try of the tournament.
With the scrum also going in Munster’s favour, Lane and McInerney used a late set-piece platform to gobble up the ground – the excellent scrum-half showing her strength in the carry – and it was O’Halloran who mopped up to complete her brace.
Some more scrum pressure, early in the second half, yielded Munster’s sixth try of the day as Moore set up Corrigan to hold off Ciara Fitzsimons and make it over in the right corner.
The table toppers ramped up their maul defence to keep Ulster scoreless, the opportunity having been teed up by Caitlin Crowe’s breakdown work. Fitzsimons also threatened soon after.
Lane deservedly got on the scoresheet in the 51st minute, rewarded for her support run after Finn had ghosted through a gap. The latter converted for a 43-0 lead.
Corey was next over the whitewash, profiting from Linn’s pacy break when she straightened up the attack. Finn’s left boot made it 50 points without reply.
It was now one-way traffic, and a third converted score followed in the space of six minutes. Impressive flanker Sally Kelly split open Ulster through the middle, and McInerney coasted home from a Finn pass.
Both coaches gave their benches a good chunk of minutes, with Ulster boss Murray Houston able to hand promising young Banbridge second row Olivia McKinley her senior debut.
However, despite McGrath and Sophie Barrett coming back on for the final quarter, Ulster’s lineout unfortunately let them down again, having built some attacking momentum.
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They did finally have some space to exploit when Moyles picked out Fitzsimons with a cross-field kick from a penalty, only for the tireless Linn to halt her progress.
Although they won a couple of scrum penalties, it was a disappointing finish for Ulster who had the worrying sight of Daley and Fitzsimons both coming off injured.
Munster winger Corrigan continued to be difficult to bring down, increasing her post-contact metres late on, and a final attack saw Linn put Murphy over for a debut try out on the left.
Leinster 36
Connacht 21
Debut tries from Stacey Flood and Niamh Murphy helped Leinster to overcome Connacht 36-21 for their opening Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship win.
Having failed to pick up a point against Munster, this was a must-win game for Leinster at Energia Park, and they prevailed thanks to closing scores from Maggie Boylan and replacement Murphy.
Craig Hansberry’s young Connacht side led early on, and twice closed the gap to three points, but they are now a point behind second-placed Leinster in the table heading into the final round.
Leinster’s improved performance in front of their home support had them 17-14 ahead at half-time, with Maggie Boylan, Hannah Wilson, and Emma Tilly all touching down.
Narrow winners over Ulster, Connacht were right in the hunt thanks to two slick sniping efforts from co-captain Aoibheann Reilly, who doubled her tally just before the interval.
Returning to action, Ireland star Flood bagged Leinster’s bonus point, and although Stacy Hanley hit back for the westerners, Sana Govender’s charges had the stronger finish.
Leinster, who had Ireland captain Erin King as their player-of-the-match, can book their place in the 29 August final with a win away to Ulster next Saturday. Connacht entertain Munster in the day’s second clash.
A minute’s silence was held before kick-off for Philip ‘Goose’ Doyle, Ireland’s 2013 Grand Slam-winning head coach, who sadly passed away in June at the age of 61.
Méabh Deely won the initial kicking battle, and Faith Oviawe pilfered the first lineout, to give Connacht all the encouragement they needed to take an early lead.
The timing from Reilly was perfect as she broke clean through off the back of a midfield ruck, fending off Flood at the edge of the Leinster 22 and darting clear for a try which Deely converted.
Connacht remained on the front foot thanks to Deely’s accurate kicking, and a speedy attacking game which highlighted Jemima Adams Verling’s powerful carrying. Ruth Campbell answered back with a muscular maul turnover.
A Boylan-led breakout got Leinster into scoring range for the first time, and they stayed there with pressure put on Deely’s clearance kick, and Flood prominent on the counter.
The hosts knocked on the door, with the lively King carrying twice in quick succession, and space was created in the 18th minute for King to release Boylan for the right corner.
Leinster began the second quarter with a smart break involving King and Aoife Corcoran, and Aoife Dalton’s well-won penalty at the breakdown put a second try within reach.
The resulting maul, from 10 metres out, was well controlled for loosehead Wilson to get the grounding to the left of the posts. Dannah O’Brien’s conversion made it 12-7.
The margin was widened to 10 points just after the half-hour mark. Leinster used another penalty to make inroads, with two inviting offloads from Shona White and debutant Nikki Gibson keeping the attack going, and it ended with Tilly dashing over from 10 metres out.
However, Ballinasloe native Reilly lifted her team again in the 37th minute, exploiting space around the side of a ruck to scamper over on a 35-metre run-in. Deely’s extras left three points in it.
As this exciting contest began to open up further on the restart, props White and Ella Burns put in a couple of eye-catching bursts, while Anna McGann was seeing more of the ball as Connacht raised the tempo.
A break by the newly-introduced Regan Casey was spoiled by a Katie Whelan knock-on, but Leinster’s attack clicked in the 55th minute. Flood slipped through to score near the posts, using a clever dummy and a hand-off to get away from Reilly.
O’Brien converted the bonus point try, restoring the 10-point gap. Connacht owned possession for the next while, and produced one of their most incisive attacks with 15 minutes remaining.
Deely used quick scrum ball to send Clara Barrett and McGann charging through midfield, with Deely and co-captain Ailish Quinn taking the move to within metres of the try-line.
The westerners’ determined pack used a tap penalty to edge closer, and hooker Hanley displayed impressive strength to find a way over from a ruck. Deely’s conversion reduced the arrears to 24-21.
Crucially, Leinster were able to hit back within a couple of minutes. After strong carries from Linda Djougang and Campbell, Higgins used an overlap on the right to send Boylan over in the corner.
Higgins increased her influence as the Blues settled the issue, with the international centre’s turnover penalty, and subsequent short pass, a few phases later, releasing Murphy on a nicely-angled run in behind the posts.
*****
Scorers for Munster
Tries: Chisom Ugwueru, Clodagh O’Halloran 2, Beth Buttimer 2, Katie Corrigan, Emily Lane, Aoife Corey, Alana McInerney, Andrea Murphy.
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Munster crush Ulster 62-0 to reach women's interpro final; Leinster overcome Connacht
LAST UPDATE | 37 mins ago
Munster 62
Ulster 0
MUNSTER WERE MERCILESS in their pursuit of tries as they crushed Ulster 62-0 in the second round of the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship.
Last year’s champions outclassed their opponents at Virgin Media Park, racking up 10 tries for their second bonus-point win and comfortable qualification for the final on 29 August.
Two tries each from Beth Buttimer and player-of-the-match Clodagh O’Halloran, adding to Chisom Ugwueru’s electric ninth-minute opener, had Munster leading 31-0 at half-time.
Enya Breen was back on form with her place-kicking, adding three conversions, as Ulster, despite the return of captain India Daley, struggled to slow down Munster’s attacking tempo.
Matt Brown’s side were relentless at times, adding further tries from Katie Corrigan, Emily Lane, stand-in captain Aoife Corey, Alana McInerney, and newcomer Andrea Murphy.
Replacement Caitríona Finn tagged on three conversions, helping them to push past the 60-point mark. Munster visit Connacht next Saturday, while Ulster are back in Belfast to host Leinster.
The Reds were able to disrupt Ulster’s first two lineouts, including an O’Halloran steal, and control the early possession until Abby Moyles’ rip in a tackle.
Niamh Marley’s turnover penalty typified Ulster’s resistance, but Ugwueru then cut them open out wide, fending off both Marley and Katie Gilmour before breaking through Moyles’ tackle for a superb solo try.
Following Breen’s crisp conversion from the left, the title-holders flexed their muscles from a maul, with Buttimer stopped short before O’Halloran squeezed over to make it 12-0.
Grace Moore, regularly making metres with her carries, went close after Munster had won a 21st-minute scrum against the head. Possession was retained for Buttimer to burrow over, with Breen precise from the tee.
Ireland internationals Sadhbh McGrath and Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan carried well as Ulster, on the back of a penalty outside the Munster 22, pressed for a response until Ugwueru forced a knock-on from Moyles.
Back within striking distance in the 31st minute, Munster clinically claimed their bonus point. Lucia Linn neatly tidied up a partially-blocked Breen kick, and the forwards took over, Buttimer twisting out of a tackle to grab her sixth try of the tournament.
With the scrum also going in Munster’s favour, Lane and McInerney used a late set-piece platform to gobble up the ground – the excellent scrum-half showing her strength in the carry – and it was O’Halloran who mopped up to complete her brace.
Some more scrum pressure, early in the second half, yielded Munster’s sixth try of the day as Moore set up Corrigan to hold off Ciara Fitzsimons and make it over in the right corner.
The table toppers ramped up their maul defence to keep Ulster scoreless, the opportunity having been teed up by Caitlin Crowe’s breakdown work. Fitzsimons also threatened soon after.
Lane deservedly got on the scoresheet in the 51st minute, rewarded for her support run after Finn had ghosted through a gap. The latter converted for a 43-0 lead.
Corey was next over the whitewash, profiting from Linn’s pacy break when she straightened up the attack. Finn’s left boot made it 50 points without reply.
It was now one-way traffic, and a third converted score followed in the space of six minutes. Impressive flanker Sally Kelly split open Ulster through the middle, and McInerney coasted home from a Finn pass.
Both coaches gave their benches a good chunk of minutes, with Ulster boss Murray Houston able to hand promising young Banbridge second row Olivia McKinley her senior debut.
However, despite McGrath and Sophie Barrett coming back on for the final quarter, Ulster’s lineout unfortunately let them down again, having built some attacking momentum.
They did finally have some space to exploit when Moyles picked out Fitzsimons with a cross-field kick from a penalty, only for the tireless Linn to halt her progress.
Although they won a couple of scrum penalties, it was a disappointing finish for Ulster who had the worrying sight of Daley and Fitzsimons both coming off injured.
Munster winger Corrigan continued to be difficult to bring down, increasing her post-contact metres late on, and a final attack saw Linn put Murphy over for a debut try out on the left.
Leinster 36
Connacht 21
Debut tries from Stacey Flood and Niamh Murphy helped Leinster to overcome Connacht 36-21 for their opening Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship win.
Having failed to pick up a point against Munster, this was a must-win game for Leinster at Energia Park, and they prevailed thanks to closing scores from Maggie Boylan and replacement Murphy.
Craig Hansberry’s young Connacht side led early on, and twice closed the gap to three points, but they are now a point behind second-placed Leinster in the table heading into the final round.
Leinster’s improved performance in front of their home support had them 17-14 ahead at half-time, with Maggie Boylan, Hannah Wilson, and Emma Tilly all touching down.
Narrow winners over Ulster, Connacht were right in the hunt thanks to two slick sniping efforts from co-captain Aoibheann Reilly, who doubled her tally just before the interval.
Returning to action, Ireland star Flood bagged Leinster’s bonus point, and although Stacy Hanley hit back for the westerners, Sana Govender’s charges had the stronger finish.
Leinster, who had Ireland captain Erin King as their player-of-the-match, can book their place in the 29 August final with a win away to Ulster next Saturday. Connacht entertain Munster in the day’s second clash.
A minute’s silence was held before kick-off for Philip ‘Goose’ Doyle, Ireland’s 2013 Grand Slam-winning head coach, who sadly passed away in June at the age of 61.
Méabh Deely won the initial kicking battle, and Faith Oviawe pilfered the first lineout, to give Connacht all the encouragement they needed to take an early lead.
The timing from Reilly was perfect as she broke clean through off the back of a midfield ruck, fending off Flood at the edge of the Leinster 22 and darting clear for a try which Deely converted.
Connacht remained on the front foot thanks to Deely’s accurate kicking, and a speedy attacking game which highlighted Jemima Adams Verling’s powerful carrying. Ruth Campbell answered back with a muscular maul turnover.
A Boylan-led breakout got Leinster into scoring range for the first time, and they stayed there with pressure put on Deely’s clearance kick, and Flood prominent on the counter.
The hosts knocked on the door, with the lively King carrying twice in quick succession, and space was created in the 18th minute for King to release Boylan for the right corner.
Leinster began the second quarter with a smart break involving King and Aoife Corcoran, and Aoife Dalton’s well-won penalty at the breakdown put a second try within reach.
The resulting maul, from 10 metres out, was well controlled for loosehead Wilson to get the grounding to the left of the posts. Dannah O’Brien’s conversion made it 12-7.
The margin was widened to 10 points just after the half-hour mark. Leinster used another penalty to make inroads, with two inviting offloads from Shona White and debutant Nikki Gibson keeping the attack going, and it ended with Tilly dashing over from 10 metres out.
However, Ballinasloe native Reilly lifted her team again in the 37th minute, exploiting space around the side of a ruck to scamper over on a 35-metre run-in. Deely’s extras left three points in it.
As this exciting contest began to open up further on the restart, props White and Ella Burns put in a couple of eye-catching bursts, while Anna McGann was seeing more of the ball as Connacht raised the tempo.
A break by the newly-introduced Regan Casey was spoiled by a Katie Whelan knock-on, but Leinster’s attack clicked in the 55th minute. Flood slipped through to score near the posts, using a clever dummy and a hand-off to get away from Reilly.
O’Brien converted the bonus point try, restoring the 10-point gap. Connacht owned possession for the next while, and produced one of their most incisive attacks with 15 minutes remaining.
Deely used quick scrum ball to send Clara Barrett and McGann charging through midfield, with Deely and co-captain Ailish Quinn taking the move to within metres of the try-line.
The westerners’ determined pack used a tap penalty to edge closer, and hooker Hanley displayed impressive strength to find a way over from a ruck. Deely’s conversion reduced the arrears to 24-21.
Crucially, Leinster were able to hit back within a couple of minutes. After strong carries from Linda Djougang and Campbell, Higgins used an overlap on the right to send Boylan over in the corner.
Higgins increased her influence as the Blues settled the issue, with the international centre’s turnover penalty, and subsequent short pass, a few phases later, releasing Murphy on a nicely-angled run in behind the posts.
*****
Scorers for Munster
MUNSTER: Aoife Corey (capt); Katie Corrigan, Alana McInerney, Lucia Linn, Chisom Ugwueru; Enya Breen, Emily Lane; Siobhán McCarthy, Beth Buttimer, Eilís Cahil, Jane Clohessy, Aoibhe O’Flynn, Clodagh O’Halloran, Sally Kelly, Grace Moore.
Replacements: Emma Dunican, Tuathla Ryan, Alisha Flynn, Annakate Cournane, Ava O’Malley, Abbie Salter-Townshend, Caitríona Finn, Andrea Murphy.
ULSTER: Niamh Marley; Katie Gilmour, Caitlin Crowe, Lucy Thompson, Ciara Fitzsimons; Abby Moyles; Rachael McIlroy; Sadhbh McGrath, India Daley (capt), Sophie Barrett, Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan, Rebecca Beacom, Moya Hill, Christy Hill, Claire Boles.
Replacements: Maebh Clenaghan, Sarah Roberts, Ava Fannin, Olivia McKinley, Stacey Sloan, Georgia Boyce, Leah Irwin, Ella Durkan.
Referee: Kenny Coldrick (IRFU)
*****
Scorers for Leinster:
Scorers for Connacht:
LEINSTER: Stacey Flood; Maggie Boylan, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins, Emma Tilly; Dannah O’Brien, Alex Connor; Hannah Wilson, Sarah Delaney (capt), Linda Djougang, Ruth Campbell, Nikki Gibson, Aoife Corcoran, Róisín Kinch, Erin King.
Replacements: Emma Jane Wilson, Caoimhe Molloy, Shona White, Regan Casey, Kathy Baker, Katie Whelan, Niamh Murphy, Robyn O’Connor.
CONNACHT: Clara Barrett; Alanna Fitzpatrick, Anna McGann, Lyndsay Clarke, Emily Foley; Méabh Deely, Aoibheann Reilly (co-capt); Ella Burns, Stacy Hanley, Lily Morris, Faith Oviawe, Poppy Garvey, Emma Kelly, Ailish Quinn (co-capt), Jemima Adams Verling.
Replacements: Jess Keating, Éabha O’Mahoney, Hannah Rapley, Emma Fabby, Olivia Tallon, Gráinne Moran, Síofra Hession, Clare Gorman.
Referee: Morgan McCartney (IRFU).
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emphatic Munster Rugby Ulster Women's Interprovincial Championship