Sports Ireland had plenty to celebrate after an action-packed third round in the Energia All-Ireland League Women’s Divisions. Old Belvedere made a strong statement away from home, while UL Bohemian and Blackrock College also delivered impressive Division 1A performances.
There was plenty of competitive rugby across the country, too. In Division 1B, MU Barnhall recovered from an early setback to beat Tullow, Ballincollig edged past Ennis and Enniskillen RFC overturned a half-time deficit against Cooke.
Old Belvedere make their authority count
Old Belvedere produced one of the standout Ireland sports news performances of the weekend with a 33-20 win over Railway Union at Park Avenue.
Railway Union struck first through Sydney Davis, but Old Belvedere responded immediately through Katie Corrigan. Clare Gorman and Katie Whelan then added further tries as the visitors built a commanding 21-5 half-time lead.
Whelan crossed twice, while Elisa McGabhann also found the try line. Ellen Jane O’Sullivan Sexton supplied a highly effective kicking display, converting five of Old Belvedere’s tries.
Railway Union continued to fight until the finish. Aimee Clarke, Poppy Garvey and Ava Usanova all scored after the interval, but Old Belvedere’s early advantage proved decisive. The result underlined their status as one of the leading teams in this year’s women’s rugby campaign.
UL Bohemian maintain winning momentum
UL Bohemian also impressed on the road, defeating Wicklow 43-19 at Ashtown Lane.
Ciara O’Dwyer crossed twice in a lively opening half, while Claire Bennett and Chisom Ugwueru also scored as UL Bohemian moved into a 24-7 lead at the break. Kate Flannery added an influential performance, contributing three conversions and a second-half try.
Kate Flannery, Aoife Corey and Stephanie Nunan added further scores after the restart as the visitors kept control of the contest. Wicklow showed character through Jamie Church’s two tries and a late effort from Usha Daly O’Toole, but UL Bohemian’s attacking variety made the difference.
Blackrock College produce a convincing home display
Blackrock College recorded the largest Division 1A victory, running out 48-7 winners against Galwegians at Stradbrook.
Blackrock led 19-0 at half-time after tries from Maggie Boylan, Kate Farrell McCabe and Ava Fannin. Their control continued in the second half, with Meabh Deely, Sarah Delaney, Brogan Mior and Destiny Moses all adding to the scoreboard.
Mior scored twice, while Abby Moyles provided reliable support from the tee. Galwegians did manage a response through Gemma Faulkner, converted by Siofra Hession, but Blackrock’s strength and accuracy remained the central story of the match.
Division 1B delivers three hard-fought contests
Ballincollig came from behind to beat Ennis RFC 23-14 at Tanner Park. Ennis led 12-10 at half-time after two tries from Lyndsay Clarke, both converted by Fia Whelan.
Ballincollig stayed patient and turned the match in the second half. Emma Connolly added a penalty before Grace Kingston and Brighid Twohig crossed, with the late try sealing an important result for the home side.
MU Barnhall responded strongly after conceding an early try to Tullow. Roisin Kinch gave the visitors a 7-0 lead, but Barnhall took control with tries from Amy Rushton, Emma Brogan and Holly Leach before half-time.
Leach scored twice, while Emer Sweetnam also crossed twice after the interval as MU Barnhall completed a 36-7 victory. Tullow’s early energy was ultimately outweighed by the hosts’ finishing and second-half pressure.
At Shaw’s Bridge, Enniskillen RFC came from 5-0 down to defeat Cooke 12-5. Molly Boyd’s early try gave Cooke the advantage, but Enniskillen turned the game around after the break through Zara Flack and Leah Irwin. Eve Balfour’s conversion provided the margin in a tight contest.
What Round 3 tells us
- Old Belvedere’s away win strengthens their early title credentials.
- UL Bohemian continue to show attacking confidence and consistency.
- Blackrock College’s defensive and attacking balance proved too much for Galwegians.
- Division 1B remains highly competitive, with comebacks a major feature of the round.
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What comes next?
With three rounds completed, the early table picture is beginning to take shape, but the campaign remains long and demanding. Old Belvedere, UL Bohemian and Blackrock College have set an early standard in Division 1A, while Division 1B’s competitive results suggest there will be little room for complacency. The next round of fixtures will show whether the early pace-setters can maintain their momentum.
Article/Image Courtesy: Irish Rugby