The Ireland Women’s Sevens team have finished 10th at the second leg of the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series in Dubai, after Stan McDowell’s side slipped to an agonising 26-21 extra-time defeat to England.
The ever-influential Hannah Tyrrell scored twice and a late Louise Galvin try forced the 9th-10th place play-off into extra-time at The Sevens Stadium, before England clinched victory in the 16th minute through two-try replacement Deborah Fleming.
It was a tough end to the weekend for the Ireland Women, who add three points to their overall World Series tally following the six they collected for their eighth-place finish in Glendale back in October.
Ireland were without Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe for their Dubai finale and fell behind courtesy of Heather Fisher’s second-minute score. It overshadowed a bright start which saw Emily Lane get within five metres of the try-line, but possession was ripped away from Katie Fitzhenry who also missed a tackle on Fisher for England’s opening try.
The white shirts built momentum for Amy Wilson Hardy to power through a Fitzhenry tackle and make it 14-0, before a miscued English restart allowed Ireland to hit back right on the stroke of half-time. A neat move set up Tyrrell to dart through midfield, using a strong fend to score a classy seven-pointer.
England gained the upper hand again on the restart, though, as a Fisher turnover led to fresh-legged replacement Fleming breaking clear down the left wing for a 21-7 scoreline. Tyrrell cancelled that try out with a nice step to glide over from close range, rewarding a strong initial carry from the newly-introduced Claire Boles.
With Tyrrell snaffling a loose English pass, Ireland flooded forward with the bench players adding plenty of energy. Brittany Hogan and Anna Doyle did really well to work the ball to the right of the posts where Galvin stepped inside the cover and weaved in behind the posts with just over half-a-minute remaining.
Eve Higgins tapped over the levelling conversion at 21-all, but it was England who showed the greater urgency and physicality in extra-time. Higgins’ wayward restart kick, combined with a costly penalty for holding on, gave the English the platform to send the pacy Fleming over in the left corner for the match winner.
You can keep up with Ireland’s progress as they move on to Cape Town next week, using the hashtag #IreW7s and on the Irish Rugby social media channels. The 2020 Ireland Sevens jersey is now available to buy online from Elverys Intersport, official sports retailer of the IRFU.
Kathy Baker (Blackrock/Leinster)
Claire Boles (Railway Union/Ulster)
Megan Burns (Tullamore/Leinster)
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union/Munster) (co-capt)
Anna Doyle (DCU/Leinster)
Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock/Leinster) (co-capt)
Louise Galvin (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Katie Heffernan (Mullingar/Railway Union/Leinster)
Eve Higgins (Railway Union/Leinster)
Brittany Hogan (DCU/Ulster)
Emily Lane (Mallow/Munster)
Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird (Old Belvedere/Munster)
Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Pool B:
Thursday, December 5:
Spain 12 Ireland 10, The Sevens Stadium, Dubai
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Kathy Baker
Last-Gasp Try Denies Ireland Women Opening Win In Dubai
Team: Katie Fitzhenry (co-capt), Kathy Baker, Louise Galvin, Emily Lane, Eve Higgins, Hannah Tyrrell, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (co-capt).
Subs used: Brittany Hogan, Megan Burns. Not used: Katie Heffernan, Claire Boles, Anna Doyle.
Friday, December 6:
Australia 38 Ireland 5, The Sevens Stadium, Dubai
Scorers: Ireland: Try: Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe
HT: Australia 12 Ireland 5
Team: Katie Fitzhenry (co-capt), Kathy Baker, Louise Galvin, Emily Lane, Eve Higgins, Hannah Tyrrell, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (co-capt).
Subs used: Megan Burns, Brittany Hogan, Claire Boles. Not used: Katie Heffernan, Anna Doyle.
Ireland 12 Fiji 28, The Sevens Stadium, Dubai
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Eve Higgins; Con: Eve Higgins
HT: Ireland 5 Fiji 14
Murphy Crowe Tries Not Enough As Ireland Set For England Play-Off
Team: Katie Fitzhenry (co-capt), Kathy Baker, Louise Galvin, Emily Lane, Eve Higgins, Hannah Tyrrell, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (co-capt).
Subs used: Brittany Hogan, Megan Burns, Katie Heffernan, Claire Boles, Anna Doyle.
Saturday, December 7:
9th-10th Place Play-Off: England 26 Ireland 21 (after extra-time), The Sevens Stadium, Dubai
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Hannah Tyrrell 2, Louise Galvin; Cons: Eve Higgins 3
HT: England 14 Ireland 7
Team: Katie Fitzhenry (co-capt), Kathy Baker, Louise Galvin, Emily Lane, Eve Higgins, Hannah Tyrrell, Megan Burns.
Subs used: Brittany Hogan, Anna Doyle, Katie Heffernan, Claire Boles, Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird.
Dubai 7s Results/Pool Tables/Final Standings
October 5-6, 2019: Infinity Park, Colorado, USA (8th Place/6 Points)
December 5-7: The Sevens Stadium, Dubai, UAE (10th Place/3 Points)
December 13-15: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa
January 25-26, 2020: FMG Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand
February 1-2: Bankwest Stadium, Sydney, Australia
April 3-5: Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong
May 2-3: Westhills Stadium, Langford, Canada
May 30-31, 2020: Stade Jean-Bouin, Paris, France
* All fixture details correct at time of publication/subject to change
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