Cracking Women’s Interpro ends with a Munster win

Munster 32, Leinster 21

MEETINGS between Munster and Leister are always hotly contested and this clash in Cork certainly lived up to expectations. It took Munster only 12 minutes to stamp their authority on proceedings, Chiu som Ugwuer forcing a lineout near the Leinster line and the resultant lineout/maul saw Joan Clohessy ground the ball. That five point lead did not last long, Leinster scoring a converted try at the other end, Nikki Caughey converting Aoife Dalton’s try to give the visisitors a 5-7 lead with 16 minutes played.

Leinster had the better of the exchanges at that stage of this thriller and they increased their lead to 12-5 when Ailsa Hughes punished a hesitant defence and  Nikki Caughey was again accurate with the kick. Another score at that stage of the game could have put Leinster in a commanding position but Munster held firm and on 31 minutes a superb maul forced Leinster to conced a penalty try that saw the home side now only two points adrift at the break 12-14. Some very impressive personal performances in the Munster shirt when needed with Dorothy Wall outstanding, Jane Clohessy, captain Chloe Pearse and centre Enya Breen having superb outings and wing Chiu som Ugwuer causing the visitors havoc whenever she got the ball.

Munster got the start that they would have been looking for as the second half got underway and Chiu som Ugwuer got over for a try far out on the right wing. The same player then made a significant tackle that resulted in the home side being awarded a penalty try and the lead of 24-14 appeared to be going out of Leinster’s reach. On 65 minutes there were just six points between the sides after Leinster hooker Leah Tarpey grounded the ball and Nikki Caughey’s conversion set up a nail-biting final minutes. Kate /flannery popped over a close in penalty to make it 27-21 but the blue jerseys pounded the red ten-metre line as they came in search of a dramatic seven pointer but it was not to be their day. Munster repelled two onslaughts, intercepted a loose pass and Alana McInerney added to her impressive try scoring rate to seal the victory.

This was a women’s game that excelled. It was played at speed, non stop tackles were made and taken without a breath throughout the full 80 minutes and the result went right down to the wire. It was a fantastic advertisement for the women’s game at this level and Munster will now go into their remaining game against Connacht boosted with confidence,

Munster: Aoife Corey (UL Bohemian RFC); Chiu som Ugwuer (UL Bohemian RFC), Stephanie Nunan (UL Bohemian RFC), Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC), Alana McInerney (UL Bohemian RFC); Kate Flannery (UL Bohemian RFC), Muirne Wall (UL Bohemian RFC); Siobhan McCarthy (Gloucester-Hartpury), Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemian RFC), Éilis Cahill (UL Bohemian RFC), Dorothy Wall (Exeter Chiefs) Claire Bennett (UL Bohemian RFC), Clodagh O’Halloran (UL Bohemian RFC), Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian RFC), Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemian RFC) (capt).

Replacements: Emma Dunican (Tralee RFC), Ciara O’Dwyer (UL Bohemian RFC), Ciara McLoughlin (UL Bohemian RFC), Aoibhe O’Flynn (UL Bohemian RFC), Annakate Cournane (Shannon RFC), Caitriona Finn (UL Bohemian RFC), Lucia Linn (Loughborough Lightning), Maggie Boylan (Blackrock College RFC).
Leinster: Emma Tilly (MU Barnhall RFC/Old Belvedere RFC); Aimee Clarke (Railway Union RFC), Aoife Dalton (Tullamore RFC/Old Belvedere RFC), Cara Martin (Navan RFC/Blackrock College RFC), Ella Roberts (Wicklow RFC); Nikki Caughey (Malone RFC/Railway Union RFC), Ailsa Hughes (Tullamore RFC/Railway Union RFC); Linda Djougang (Wanderers FC/Old Belvedere RFC), Sarah Delaney (PortDara Falcons RFC/Blackrock College RFC), Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC), Ruth Campbell (Naas RFC/MU Barnhall RFC/Old Belvedere RFC), Eimear Corri (Portlaoise RFC/Blackrock College RFC), Hannah O’Connor (CYM Terenure RFC/Blackrock College RFC) (capt), Molly Boyne (Railway Union RFC), Caoimhe Molloy (Gorey RFC/Wicklow RFC).
Replacements: Aoife Moore (Carrick-on-Suir RFC/Blackrock College RFC), Clodagh Dunne (Gorey RFC/Old Belvedere RFC), Kelly Burke (Mullingar RFC), Jane Neill (Arklow RFC/Galwegians RFC), Jemma Farrell (Old Belvedere RFC), Jade Gaffney (Navan RFC/Old Belvedere RFC), Leah Tarpey (Tullamore RFC/Railway Union RFC), Robyn O’Connor (Wexford Wanderers RFC).

Referee: Shane Gaughan (IRFU)
Assistant Referees: Alex Aherne, Damien Power (both IRFU)

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