The moment the two Irish squads were announced, you had to wonder: who on earth is going to beat them? The nation is blessed with talent at the moment, headed by Erin King, proclaimed the World Young Player of the Year.
Here at Donnybrook the title of top dog was at stake. Wolfhounds were the reigning champions, but Clovers boasted a fine side to dispute the issue.
The Game
Wolfhounds set the tone: they already had numbers as the ball spread left. A step inside by Aoife Dalton and Amy Larn had a clear run to the line. 0-7
Clovers responded at once, but the referee was perfectly placed to order the 200,000th ‘held-up’ of the season. You take my point.
The referee didn’t spot an errant Wolf hand interrupt Emily Lane’s pass; the effect was devastating. The ball fell into Linda Djougang’s grasp, and she entered the competitioin for the outstanding prop run of the weekend. She has stiff competition from Maud Muir and Sarah Bern, but fair-minded people will give her the prize. She galloped from behind her own 10-metre line to outpace a 13, Enya Breen. A wonderful conversion by Dannah O’Brien. 0-14
At their third line-out Clovers didn’t overthrow; instead they mauled so effectively that they won a penalty try, and the referee brandished a yellow card at King. 7-14
Niamh O’Dowd entered the prop competition, but her run extended only about 30 metres.
Half-time: Clovers 7 Wolfhounds 14
As so often happens, a really thoughtful kick-ahead brought trouble to the side in possession. Nicole Fowley’s chip through off the outside of her boot bounced kindly for Stacey Flood, and Eve Higgins was the grateful recipient. 7-21
Much of the half was hard-fought and even. Clovers countered most of the champions’ efforts, till on 66 minutes the blue-and-white quarters achieved their try-bonus with a catch-and-drive. Try to the debutant Kelly Burke. 28-7 (O’Brien 4/4)
The strain was telling. A moment later Flood was over the line. 33-7
Five minutes from time Clovers were driving towards the line for a redemptive score. The next moment the ball was in Wolfhounds’ possession legally, and they cleared. This summed the game up: a good Clovers’ side beaten by an even better opposition. Denis Fogarty will be concerned that his side couldn’t actually cross the line.
Result: Clovers 7 Wolfhounds 33
Player of the Match: Linda Djougang
Teams:
Clovers: 15 Meabh Deely (Blackrock College/Connacht), 14 Hannah Clarke (Galwegians/ Connacht), 13. Ellen Boylan (Blackrock College/Munster), 12 Enya Breen (captain, Blackrock College/Munster), 11 Chisom Ugwueru (UL Bohemian/Munster), 10 Nicole Fowley (Galwegians/ Connacht), 9 Emily Lane (Blackrock College/Munster), 1 Siobhán McCarthy (Railway Union/ Munster), 2 Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemian/Munster), 3 Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen/Railway Union/ Ulster), 4 Jane Neill (Old Belvedere/Leinster), 5 Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere/Leinster), 6 Jemima Adams Verling (Creggs/Connacht), 7 Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere/Munster), 8 Ivana Kiripati (Creggs/Connacht)
16 Saoirse Crowe (Shannon/Munster), 17 Grainne Burke (UL Bohemian/Munster), 18 Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke/Ulster), 19 Faith Oviawe (Railway Union/Connacht), 20 Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht), 21 Grainne Moran (Galwegians/Connacht), 22 Caitriona Finn (UL Bohemian/ Munster), 23. Amee Leigh Costigan (Railway Union/Munster)
Wolfhounds: 15 Stacey Flood (Railway Union/Leinster), 14 Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow/Leinster), 13 Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), 12 Eve Higgins (Railway Union), 11 Amy Larn (Athy/ Leinster), 10 Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere/Leinster), 9 Katie Whelan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), 1 Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere/Leinster), 2 Maebh Clenaghan (Queens/Cooke/Ulster), 3 Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster), 4 Alma Atagamen (Balbriggan/Leinster), 5 Poppy Garvey (Railway Union/Connacht), 6 Molly Boyne (Railway Union/Leinster), 7 Claire Boles (captain, Railway Union/Ulster), 8 Erin King (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
16 Kelly Burke (Mullingar/Leinster), 17 Tricia Doyle (Railway Union/Leinster), 18 Caoimhe Molloy (Wicklow/Leinster), 19 Cliodhna Ni Chonchobhair (Blackrock College/Leinster), 20 Ciara Short (Wicklow/Leinster), 21 Erin McConnell (Wicklow/Leinster), 22 Megan Burns (Blackrock College/ Leinster), 23 Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Afterthoughts
The four provinces of Ireland don’t divide up evenly in women’s rugby any more than anywhere else. Munster have had their strong moments, but Leinster have the advantage of much the largest population, in the Dublin conurbation. This is reflected in the number of top players in the Wolfhounds squad.
Both were notable for the absence of PWR players, though on the Clovers’ bench lurked Edel McMahon. So the policy was to advantage local talent – quite right.
Scott Bemand will be happy with the performances of the 7s players; some like Flood, making their tournament debut.
The Rest of the Celtic Challenge, Round One
In the Saturday match Gwalia Lightning beat Brython Thunder.
Brython started strongly, but from there Gwalia showed the way. They led 21-5 at the break and doubled their score before the end.
Fourteen test players on show indicated that the coaches and the WRU see this tournament as an important trial run for the 6N and the RWC. A greater reliance on players of proven experience raises the standard of play, while still giving the next generation the chance to show their worth.
My present guesses:
1. The two Cymru squads will not remove the best Irish and Scottish teams from their leading positions.
2. Glasgow and Brython will find victory as difficult as last year.
All three 1st round results:
Gwalia Lightning 42 Brython Thunder 22
Edinburgh Rugby 61 Glasgow Warriors 15
Clovers 7 Wolfhounds 33
