Old Belvedere 39 – 0 Blackrock, Anglesea Road
St Mary’s 12 – 22 Railway Union RFC, Templeville Road
Highfield 5 -17 U.L. Bohemian, Woodleigh Park
Tralee P – P Galwegians, O’Dowd Park
COMING INTO THE fourth round of women’s AIL Division 1A action, Blackrock were the only side who had managed to keep their opposition scoreless in the proceeding three rounds.
However, their local rivals Old Belvedere put a stunning second half performance in Anglesea Road to well and truly blot Blackrock’s defensive record running in an impressive six tries without answer.
The match began as a relatively cagey affair with only a penalty from Old Belvedere’s international out half Nora Stapleton separating the two sides at half time.
After the interval the defending champions came out like a team on a mission and stunned Blackrock. After spending ten minutes defending their line Blackrock conceded their first try of the season when replacement prop Fiona O’Brien scored from a powerful Old Belvedere driving maul.
Just two minutes later the hosts struck again when tight head prop Ailis Egan scored a try on the back of great support from lock Emma Dunne and Ireland colleague back row Sophie Spence.
Old Belvedere continued to grow in confidence, their extremely quick line speed did not give Blackrock a chance to claw their way back in the game.
Spence’s star continued to shine bursting through to score after 56 minutes. Ten minutes later she scored again from the back of a scrum. With minutes left on the clock, Spence secured her hat trick from a Jenny Murphy flat pass.
Old Belvedere’s tenacity continued with Ireland sevens’ Hannah Tyrell dotting down from the wing to close the afternoon’s scoring ending 39-0.
Railway Union continued their bright start to life in the top division after a hard fought 22-12 victory over a much-improved St Mary’s in a physical encounter in Templeville Road.
Centre Martina McCarthy dazzled for the home side, Ireland international Paula Fitzpatrick also impressed despite being sent to the sin bin. The pair scored St Mary’s two tries.
Railway Union’s scores came from Nicole Fowley, Stacey Flood and Emma Murphy.
Stars of Ireland’s World Cup campaign Niamh Briggs and Heather O’Brien also showed their class this weekend in UL Bohemians’ away victory over Highfield in Woodleigh Park. The final score was 5-17.
Tralee and Galwegians’ O’Dowd park fixture was postponed.