Dublin sides profit in Irish Division 1

Image: Highfeld and Tralee in action at the weekend. Pic thanks to David Condon

Tralee 0 Highfield 17

Highfield’s experience in this division was one of the key differences between these two teams at the weekend, as the Cork side secured a three-try victory in a wet and windy Tralee.

Possession was dominated by the visitors and they will feel unlucky not to have secured a bonus try win, whereas the younger home side will be more than happy with their defensive efforts against a strong Highfield outfit.

In wet and greasy conditions, the opening quarter saw possession swing both ways before Highfield finally broke down a resolute defence when winger Gerda Coyne scored a try after 25 minutes of play.

As the conditions worsened, the handling errors mounted and flowing play was not possible despite the efforts of both sides. It was well into injury time before the half-time whistle the visitors touched down a second time with Ger Rea the scorer converted by Norita Duggan to leave the half-time score at 12-0.

On the resumption, the home team become more aggressive in attack but couldn't find any way through the solid Highfield defence and the battle was played out mainly in the Tralee half.

In the final quarter, Highfield upped the pressure and came close on a number of occasions but resolute defence kept them out. The Highfield patience was finally rewarded in the last couple of minutes when Fiona O’Sullivan crossed the Tralee try line to bring the final score 17-0 in favour of the visitors.

Old Belvedere 59 Portlaoise 0

Old Belvedere’s nine try conquest of Portlaoise keeps things interesting at the top of table.

Belvo started well with a turnover from Aoife Ryan almost straight from the kick-off, which culminated in a try for the Irish centre Jenny Murphy. A second try was not long in coming when some nice offloading play involving Carol Murphy and Janice Morrissey, helped Roisin O’Donnell to run in the second try of the game.

Portlaoise kept things tight for the next ten minutes with good carries from Jean Moore and some fine snipes from Niamh Griffin, who looked dangerous all afternoon. Belvo were able to wrestle the ball back from Portlaoise and a half break from Nora Stapleton was snuffed out but she managed the offload to Carol Murphy who ran in another try for Old Belvedere.

Old Belvedere started strongly in the second half and Grace McCormack secured three great turnovers in the air and was putting the Portlaoise lineout under serious pressure. A hard line from Murphy left three Portlaoise players trailing in her wake a left her to run in another try from fifty metres out, her second of the game.

Murphy soon had her third when quick hands from Ryan helped her to the line, and wing Haley Whyte put in a very efficient fifteen minute cameo scoring two tries before she had to go off injured.

The second half showed the strength of the Old Belvedere substitutes. There were excellent breaks from debutant Sophie Spence and Nicki Cregg, the new front row and backline continued to dominate. Old Belvedere scored another two tries to finish up the scoring in the game.

Blackrock 29 UL Bohemians 25

Blackrock made it three in a row with a 29-25 home victory over champions UL-Bohs at the weekend.

Losses are rarely registered against ‘Bohs, who have won the league title 12 times out of the last 13 years, so this was a huge win for the Dublin side.

‘Bohs started strongly and kicked the first points of the half with penalty after the visiting side dominated the early exchanges

The Limerick outfit went regularly to one of their biggest weapons on the day, a well organised rolling maul, and from this platform they gained yards off the back of a lineout after 15 minutes, capitalised upon by their scrumhalf Sarah Jane Cody who came off the back to place the ball over the line for their first try.

Blackrock slowly worked their way into the game though and returning player Aine Ni Chathain put Blackrock right on the UL try-line. Hard work on the part of the forwards brought clean ball to the backs who demonstrated fast accurate passing and let Claire Owens in for their first try.

A reinvigorated Blackrock team soon scored a second try, converted by Michelle Claffey, with Captain Debbie Clarke O’Connor diving over after half an hour.

Claffey kicked a penalty soon after halftime to push Blackrock ahead and with a UL player in the sin bin, it was Claffey again who capitalised with her side’s third try of the afternoon, which she converted.

Ni Chathain broke around the UL backs to put down the ball for Blackrock’s fourth try, and an all-important bonus point, and Claffey’s conversion left the home team leading 29-13 with 10 minutes left.

‘Bohs didn’t give up though and pushed over for two more tries, one from Irish skipper Fiona Coghlan, to give them two important bonus points from the match.

St. Mary’s 19 Galwegians 35

Galwegians secured a good win on the road to take their first victory of the season.

The Galway side were on the scoreboard early when their backs got off to a great start and ran in a try under the posts with Claire Raftery touching down.  She was followed two minutes later by the outstanding Mairead Coyne, who claimed the first of her three scores on the five minute mark. Raftery converted both to establish a comfortable lead after an early flurry.

The home side finally woke up and the ball was worked up the pitch through a well-timed kick and follow up by Paula Fitzpatrick. A good line out and ensuing maul saw Fitzpatrick’s determination and hunger rewarded as she touched the ball down for a much needed try.

‘Wegians came back fighting and worked their way into the Mary’s 22 for 10 minutes and a nice switch in play saw a miss-match on the Marys wing and Galwegians ran over for another try through Coyne again.The second half started with some nice off loads and tackles made by Niamh Fitzgerald and Aoife Thompson for the hosts but a sloppy pass at the end of the line saw an intercept made by Coyne, who used her pace to run half the pitch and notch up the bonus point try.Lessons were not learnt with sloppiness and there was a repeat of this where another ball was spilled a few minutes later. .Centre Lisa McDonagh marked her return from injury with the 66 minute try, set up  by lock Katherine McDonagh, who capitalised on the error.

Mary’s hit back with a try when captain Orla Fitzsimons received a well-timed pass from Aoife Thompson and used her strength to get her over the line. The next try was for the home side again with the forwards putting the ball up the jersey and maulng it over the line. Lyns O’Neill was credited with the touch down.