Combined Provinces too strong for Scottish Thistles in Celtic Challenge

THE Combined Provinces side made it two wins out of two in the Celtic Challenge by outscoring the Scottish Thistles by seven tries to two at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast as it finished 45-12.

Tries from Leah Tarpey, Claire Bennett, of UL-Bohemian and Munster, Maeve Og O'Leary, of Munster, and Ella Roberts put the Irish side 26-5 up at half-time.

Franceca McGhie's second Thistle cut the Combined Province's lead to 26-12 on Saturday afternoon.

But further tries from Aoife Dalton, Roberts and Munster's Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird saw the Irish pull well clear in the contest at Kingspan Stadium.

Dannah O'Brien kicked four conversions for the Combined Provinces, who had two Ulster starters in Ella Durkan and Fiona Tuite, while Hannah O'Connor also added the extras for the home side's final try.

The Combined Provinces' victory came after their one-point victory over a Wales Development XV a week earlier.

Ireland coach Greg McWilliams was pleased with the team's display.

"The age profile of our backline is young so they're getting an opportunity to get experience and I thought our shape at times was excellent," said McWilliams.

Kingspan Stadium will also be the venue for the Combined Provinces' home contest with the Wales Development XV on  February 18 before they conclude the competition with an away game against the Scottish Thistles in Edinburgh on February 25.

Scorers: Combined Provinces: Tries: Leah Tarpey 4 mins, Claire Bennett 18 mins, Maeve Og O’Leary 31 mins, Ella Roberts 38 mins, 65 mins mins, Aoife Dalton 51 mins, Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird 71 mins; Cons: Dannah O’Brien 4mins, 18 mins, 31 mins, 51 mins, Hannah O’Connor 71 mins. Scottish Thistles: Tries: Franceca McGhie 40 mins, 46 mins; Cons Emma Orr 46 mins.

Combined Provinces: Ella Durkan, Clara Barrett, Leah Tarpey, Aoife Dalton, Ella Roberts, Dannah O’Brien, Molly Scuffil McCabe, Niamh O’Dowd, Jess Keating, Linda Djougang, Claire Bennett, Fiona Tuite, Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird, Maeve Og O’Leary, Hannah O’Connor. Replacements: Emma Hooban, Mary Healy for Djougang 58 mins Megan Collis, Eimear Corri for Bennett 58nmins, Sophie Barrett for Tuite 66 mins, Katie Whelan for O’Brien 63 mins, Kayla Waldron for Tarpey 66 mins, Maeve Liston for Barrett 66 mins

Scottish Thistles: Roma Fraser, Rachel Philipps, Holly McIntyre, Emma Orr, Francesca McGhie, Sarah Denholm , Mairi McDonald, Panashe Muzambe, Elis Martin, Elliann Clarke, Charlotte Boan, Natasha Logan, Eva Donaldson, Erinn Foley, Freya Walker. Replacements: Nikki Simpson for Walker 52 mins, Poppy Fletcher, Lindsay McDiarmid for Foley 51 mins, Kiera MacDonald, Alex Stewart, Rhea Clarke for McDonald 59 mins, Ceitidh Ainsworth, Hannah Walker for Phillips 66 mins.