Captain Lucy Mulhall led by example as the Ireland Women registered back-to-back wins on day two in Dubai ©Mike Lee/KLC Fotos/World Rugby
Béibhinn Parsons bagged a brace of tries as the Ireland Women overcame Canada 26-12 to secure a seventh place finish at the second Dubai leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
Anthony Eddy’s side put together confidence-boosting victories over Great Britain (24-17) and Canada as they improved two places from last week’s season opener at The Sevens Stadium.
It is Ireland’s highest finish in a World Series event since they were seventh in Kitakyushu, Japan in April 2019, some nine tournaments ago.
A number of players who have joined the IRFU Sevens Programme since then grasped their opportunity this weekend, with Parsons, who only turned 20 on Tuesday, helping herself to five tries.
Talented teenager Erin King looks a promising player, making an impact with her tackling and breakdown work, while fellow newcomers Kate Farrell McCabe and Aoibheann Reilly gained further experience off the bench.
Captain Lucy Mulhall, who led a squad with ten players aged between 18 and 23, said afterwards: “I think yesterday we weren’t there, we were a couple of percent off. Just our attention to detail and being a bit more clinical.
“But it’s really pleasing to see that improve today. It’s just great to be back on the World Series, a really young squad so those two wins today will teach (them) a lot about character, coming back from being down and then finishing on a high.
“We’ll get back, train hard and try and improve in Spain (in January). Yeah, just constantly learning. We’re quite a fresh group together so it’s just exciting to build for the future.”
Day two was not going to plan for Ireland when Britain opened up an early 12-point lead, Megan Jones setting up Alicia Maude’s first-minute opener and then converting a zippy Jasmine Joyce effort.
However, a lovely switch move saw Megan Burns put Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe away for a try from just outside the British 22, with Mulhall converting from the right.
Old Belvedere starlet King then fought hard for a turnover, the possession duly leading to a try on the left for Claire Boles, who was put into space by passes from King and Brittany Hogan.
Mulhall’s missed conversion left the teams level at 12 points apiece, before Jones sidestepped through for the second half’s opening try. However, she miscued the conversion.
Mulhall played the captain’s part, inspiring her team-mates with a superb solo try. She broke from outside Ireland’s 10-metre line, darting clear to touch down despite Joyce’s last-ditch challenge.
The Wicklow woman’s pinpoint conversion gave the girls in the green the edge, at 19-17, and Ireland were the aggressors late on, winning back possession with a counter-ruck and then earning a penalty.
Stacey Flood’s kick through was gobbled up by Murphy Crowe, and with the GB defence stretched, Mulhall’s long bouncing pass sat up for Burns to outpace the cover and seal a deserved victory.
The result sealed fourth place for Ireland in Pool B and a trip back into the main stadium to face Canada, and Mulhall made sure they got off to a flying start.
She scored straight from the kick-off, fielding the ball and fending off Renee Gonzalez’s attempted tackle for a terrific try from 70 metres out. The skipper added the extras.
Scrum half Flood then threw a dummy and sniped over from close range, having forced an initial handling error from Canada a few phases earlier. Mulhall’s crisp conversion extended the lead to 14-0.
Asia Hogan-Rochester pulled a try back for Canada, but Ireland squeezed in their third just before half-time, Parsons stepping off her right and darting clear from the Irish 10-metre line.
Leading 21-5 at the turnaround, Eve Higgins and Hogan straightened up a pacy attack for Parsons to raid over on the right, fending off Hogan-Rochester along the way.
Despite Chloe Daniels replying for Canada, Eddy’s charges had done enough. A strong run from replacement Boles made sure they spent most of the remaining minutes in opposition territory.
Kathy Baker (Blackrock College RFC)
Claire Boles (Railway Union RFC)
Brittany Hogan (Ballynahinch RFC/Old Belvedere RFC)
Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC)
Katie Heffernan (Mullingar RFC/Railway Union RFC)
Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC)
Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC)
Lucy Mulhall (Rathdrum RFC) (capt)
Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC)
Kate Farrell McCabe (Suttonians RFC)
Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC)
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union RFC)
Megan Burns (Blackrock College RFC)
Friday, December 3 –
POOL B:
FIJI 24 IRELAND 19, The Sevens Stadium Pitch 2, Dubai
Scorers: Fiji: Tries: Alowesi Nakoci, Sesenieli Donu, Reapi Ulunisau, Ana Roqica; Cons: Lavenia Cavuru, Reapi Ulunisau
Ireland: Tries: Lucy Mulhall, Béibhinn Parsons, Kathy Baker; Cons: Lucy Mulhall 2
HT: Fiji 12 Ireland 5
Team: Eve Higgins, Brittany Hogan, Erin King, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Stacey Flood, Lucy Mulhall (capt), Megan Burns.
Subs used: Katie Heffernan, Claire Boles, Kathy Baker, Béibhinn Parsons, Kate Farrell McCabe.
FRANCE 29 IRELAND 0, The Sevens Stadium, Dubai
Scorers: France: Tries: Jade Ulutule, Shannon Izar, Anne-Cecile Ciofani, Joanna Grisez 2; Cons: Jade Ulutule
Ireland: –
HT: France 10 Ireland 0
Team: Eve Higgins, Brittany Hogan, Erin King, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Stacey Flood, Lucy Mulhall (capt), Megan Burns.
Subs used: Katie Heffernan, Claire Boles, Kate Farrell McCabe, Kathy Baker, Béibhinn Parsons.
USA 19 IRELAND 12, The Sevens Stadium, Dubai
Scorers: USA: Tries: Ilona Maher, Naya Tapper, Lote Tausinga; Cons: Alena Olsen 2
Ireland: Tries: Béibhinn Parsons 2; Con: Lucy Mulhall
HT: USA 12 Ireland 12
Team: Kathy Baker, Eve Higgins, Béibhinn Parsons, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Stacey Flood, Lucy Mulhall (capt), Megan Burns.
Subs used: Brittany Hogan, Erin King, Aoibheann Reilly, Claire Boles, Kate Farrell McCabe.
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – Dubai Sevens Results
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – Dubai Sevens Pool Tables
Saturday, December 4 –
POOL B:
GREAT BRITAIN 17 IRELAND 24, The Sevens Stadium, Dubai
Scorers: Great Britain: Tries: Alicia Maude, Jasmine Joyce, Megan Jones; Con: Megan Jones
Ireland: Tries: Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Claire Boles, Lucy Mulhall, Megan Burns; Cons: Lucy Mulhall 2
HT: Great Britain 12 Ireland 12
Team: Claire Boles, Brittany Hones, Erin King, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Stacey Flood, Lucy Mulhall (capt), Megan Burns.
Subs used: Kathy Baker, Katie Heffernan, Eve Higgins, Béibhinn Parsons. Not used: Kate Farrell McCabe.
7TH-8TH PLACE PLAY-OFF:
CANADA 12 IRELAND 26, The Sevens Stadium, Dubai
Scorers: Canada: Tries: Asia Hogan-Rochester, Chloe Daniels; Con: Asia Hogan-Rochester
Ireland: Tries: Lucy Mulhall, Stacey Flood, Béibhinn Parsons 2; Cons: Lucy Mulhall 3
HT: Canada 5 Ireland 21
Team: Kathy Baker, Eve Higgins, Béibhinn Parsons, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Stacey Flood, Lucy Mulhall (capt), Megan Burns.
Subs used: Brittany Hogan, Erin King, Katie Heffernan, Claire Boles, Kate Farrell McCabe.
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