Six-try Munster off to impressive winning start in women's interprovincials

MUNSTER got off to a winning start in their Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship campaign as Niamh Briggs’ side secured an impressive 34-0 bonus-point win over Ulster in Musgrave Park on Saturday.

In-form Munster now host Leinster in their second women's interprovincial fixture at Musgrave Park this Saturday, January 14 at 12.15pm, live on TG4.

Munster then complete their programme of fixtures against Connacht at The Sportsground on Saturday, January 21 at 1pm.

Munster had the bonus-point wrapped up at half-time against Ulster on Saturday with Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird, Stephanie Nunan, Limerick woman Aoife Doyle, who began her rugby career at Shannon RFC, and Claire Bennett crossing for tries while Nicole Cronin kicked one conversion.

The second-half was a much tighter affair and it took until the midway point of the second-half for Bennett to cross for her second try before Player of the Match Nic a Bhaird crossed for her second just before the full-time whistle which Kate Flannery converted.

Munster got off to a great start as a powerful maul effort saw Nic a Bhaird peel off the back and crash over the line. Nicole Cronin was unsuccessful with the conversion attempt as Niamh Briggs’ side took an early 5-0 lead.

Munster doubled their advantage soon after as some excellent handling through numerous passages of play brought the southern province up to the Ulster line where Stephanie Nunan was on hand to touch down in the corner. Another difficult conversion attempt just drifted wide for Cronin.

With 15 minutes on the clock, Munster made it 15-0 as Aoife Doyle accelerated through a gap to touch down close to the posts. Unfortunately for Munster, Cronin’s conversion just went wide to the left.

Munster secured the bonus-point with less than 10 minutes remaining in the first half. An incredible break from Maeve Óg O’Leary which saw some superb offloading from Nic a Bhaird and Nunan in the build up, saw the flanker tackled just short of the line but Claire Bennett was on hand to crash over from close range moments later.

Cronin succeeded with her difficult conversion attempt to give Munster a 22-0 lead heading into the half-time break.

It was a much tighter affair in the second 40 as both teams made a number of changes.

Briggs’ side got their fifth try midway through the second half when Claire Bennett touched down off the back of a powerful rolling maul from the women in red.

Munster’s sixth try came with the clock in the red when Nic a Bhaird evaded a number of tackles to cross to the right of the posts. Flannery’s successful conversion was the last act of the game as Munster know look forward to welcoming Leinster to Musgrave Park next Saturday.

SCORERS: Munster: Tries | Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird (x2), Stephanie Nunan, Aoife Doyle, Claire Bennett (x2)

Conversions | Nicole Cronin, Kate Flannery

MUNSTER: Aoife Corey (UL Bohemian RFC); Aoife Doyle (Railway Union RFC), Stephanie Nunan (UL Bohemian RFC), Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC) (Alana McInerney 70′), Laura Sheehan (Exeter Chiefs) (Heather Kennedy 59′); Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemian RFC) (Kate Flannery 43′), Muirne Wall (UL Bohemian RFC); Róisín Ormond (Ballincollig RFC (Geena Behan 70′)), Kate Sheehan (UL Bohemian RFC) (Nic a Bhaird 53′), Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemian RFC) (Eilís Cahill 53′); Clodagh O’Halloran (UL Bohemian RFC) (Ciara Farrell 59′), Claire Bennett (UL Bohemian RFC) (Gillian Coombes 70′); Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College RFC), Maeve Óg O’Leary (Blackrock College RFC), Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere RFC) (Chloe Pearse 40′). Replacements: Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemian RFC), Geena Behan (UL Bohemian RFC), Eilís Cahill (UL Bohemian RFC), Gillian Coombes (Ballincollig RFC), Ciara Farrell (UL Bohemian RFC), Kate Flannery (UL Bohemian RFC), Alana McInerney (UL Bohemian RFC), Heather Kennedy (Ballincollig RFC).