Women’s: Interpro Wins For Leinster, Munster

Lynne Cantwell in action for Munster in 2003

Leinster and Munster already look set to duel it out at the business end of the IWRFU Interprovincial Championship table after last weekend’s opening round.

IWRFU INTERPROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP: Saturday, October 15

Leinster 47 Connacht 3, Old Belvedere RFC

Munster 40 Ulster 0, Coonagh, Shannon RFC

FIXTURES: Saturday, October 22

Munster v Leinster, Musgrave Park, 2.30pm

Ulster v Connacht, Malone RFC, 2.30pm

Both provinces had heavy wins and next Saturday’s clash between the table-topping old rivals at Musgrave Park – the first time either provinces’ women’s teams have met at the Cork venue – will have plenty of spice.

Leinster, coached by Shane McEntee and Martin Mahon, tallied up an incredible nine tries – including a hat-trick from debutant winger Lynne Cantwell – as they completely bossed Connacht in their opener last weekend.

Cantwell, who has transferred to the Trojans club from UL Bohs and Munster for the season, displayed her full range of skills at Old Belvedere as did her fellow Ireland international Tania Rosser. The nippy Blackrock scrum half scored two tries.

Boyne forward Orla Brennan, who came on as a replacement, UL Bohs prop Caroline Mahon, now team captain, and ‘Rock lock Germaine Healy also touched down for Leinster.

Connacht, who play Ulster at Malone RFC on Saturday, gained their only score from a penalty from Galwegians forward Angela Flaherty.

At Shannon’s Coonagh ground, Munster, Interpro champions for the past four seasons, ran in six tries and Ireland captain Sarah Jane Belton also scored five conversions for a comprehensive win over Ulster.

A pre-match talk from Munster, Ireland and Lions lock Paul O’Connell had the girls in red suitably motivated for the game, but it took a full twenty minutes until debutant Sharyn Sample crossed the whitewash for the home side.

It was 21-0 at half-time to Munster after Belton, showing a neat turn of pace, and Jeannette Feighry had grabbed tries. The impressive Sample added her second on the restart and centre Stacey Kucharchuk and sub Eavan Hunt also scored in the closing half hour for Munster.

Ulster’s best performers on the day were Cooke fly half Laura Nicholl and Larne number 8 Rachel Boyd.