Ireland Women’s 7s Finish in 11th Place At The Canada 7s

The Ireland Women’s 7s had a mixed second day at the Canada 7s in Langford and will be frustrated to have only finished in 11^th place.

Having finished in 3rd Place in Pool A yesterday, Ireland found themselves in today’s Challenge Semi-Final where they slipped to a 19-12 loss to China, before putting that disappointment behind them to defeat Brazil 43-5.

In the first game of the day against China, the game started promisingly as Captain Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe scored within 30 seconds to put her side into the lead, but Ireland were guilty of numerous unforced errors and were made to pay through two first half tries.

From the restart of the second-half Ireland looked to be trying to force the game and there was a litany of dropped balls, penalties and inconsistent passes.

China crossed again for a converted try to put them 19-7 in front and despite Murphy-Crowe giving Ireland a lifeline, with her fifth try of the weekend, China retained possession from the kick-off and held out for the win.

This left Ireland in the 11^th/12^th Place Play-Off with Brazil.

The sides had met yesterday afternoon in the Pool stages, with Ireland running out 32-7 2 winners.

Eve Higgins was quickest out of the blocks, as she received the ball on the halfway and sprinted clear of the Brazilian defenders to touch down for a try, which she also converted.

Anna McGann then slipped a tackle to get over and then it was Murphy-Crowe’s turn to get over.

Brazil broke through the Ireland defence to score, but Murphy-Crowe and McGann both cross again.

Murphy-Crowe then completed her hat-trick, with her 8^th try of the weekend, putting her top of the leader board for tries on this season’s World Series with 40 tries.

Aoife Doyle sealed the 43-5 win with the final try of the game which was converted by Hannah Tyrrell.

The result will give Stan McDowell’s young side lots of positives to take from the weekend, but they will also be forced to look back at some areas of the game where the can improve going forward.

The final round of the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series takes place in Biarritz on the 15^th and 16^th June.

IRELAND WOMEN’S SEVENS RESULTS – CANADA 7s:

Saturday, May 11 –

Pool A:

Australia 33 Ireland 5

Ireland Scorers: Try: Hannah Tyrrell

Team: Louise Galvin, Anna McGann, Brittany Hogan, Aoife Doyle, Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe, Eve Higgins, Emily Lane.

Subs used: Hannah Tyrrell, Claire Boles, Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird, Megan Burns. Not Used: Katie Heffernan.

Canada 22 Ireland 5
Ireland Scorers: Try: Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe

Team: Louise Galvin, Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird, Brittany Hogan, Aoife Doyle, Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe, Eve Higgins, Emily Lane.

Subs used: Hannah Tyrrell, Claire Boles, Anna McGann, Megan Burns. Not Used: Katie Heffernan.

Ireland 32 Brazil 7

Ireland Scorers: Tries: Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe 2, Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird, Anna McGann, Eve Higgins, Hannah Tyrrell. Con: Eve Higgins.

Team: Louise Galvin, Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird, Brittany Hogan, Aoife Doyle, Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe, Eve Higgins, Emily Lane.

Subs used: Hannah Tyrrell, Claire Boles, Anna McGann, Megan Burns. Not Used: Katie Heffernan.

Sunday, May 12 –

Challenge Semi-Final:

China 19 Ireland 12

Ireland Scorers: Try: Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe 2, Con: Eve Higgins

Team: Louise Galvin, Claire Boles, Brittany Hogan, Megan Burns, Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe, Eve Higgins, Emily Lane.

11^th Place Play-Off:

Ireland 42 Brazil 5

Ireland Scorers: Try: Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe 3, Anna McGann 2, Eve Higgins, Aoife Doyle. Cons: Eve Higgins 3, Hannah Tyrrell.

Team: Anna McGann, Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird, Brittany Hogan, Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe, Hannah Tyrrell, Eve Higgins, Emily Lane.

Subs used: Megan Burns, Claire Boles, Aoife Doyle, Katie Heffernan. Not Used: Louise Galvin.

IRELAND WOMEN’S SEVENS Squad (2018/19 HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series – Canada 7s, Westhills Stadium, Langford, Victoria BC, Canada

Claire Boles (Railway Union/Ulster)
Megan Burns (Tullamore/Leinster)
Aoife Doyle (Shannon/Railway Union/Munster)
Louise Galvin (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Katie Heffernan (Mullingar/Railway Union/Leinster)

Eve Higgins (Railway Union/Leinster)
Brittany Hogan (Railway Union/Ulster)
Emily Lane (Mallow/Munster)
Anna McGann (UCD/Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union/Munster) (Captain)
Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird (Old Belvedere/Munster)
Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

Travelling Reserve – Kathy Baker (Blackrock College/Leinster)