Ireland Women Lose Hong Kong Quarter-Final To Australia

A three-try first half salvo set the second-ranked Australians on their way, but Ireland fought valiantly and deservedly got off the mark in the 15th minute through Wicklow’s Vicky Elmes Kinlan.

With Fiji and Great Britain both making it through to the semi-finals, the girls in green know their lead over those two teams in the Olympic qualification race – currently 10 and 14 points respectively – will be cut to some degree.

Captain Lucy Mulhall and her team-mates will target a fifth place finish on the tournament’s final day, beginning with a semi-final clash with familiar rivals France (kick-off 1.11pm local time/6.11am Irish time).

Having run Australia close during the pool stages, going down 19-12, Ireland were hopeful of making the quarter-final another tight tussle but their opponents were first on the scoreboard.

An Emily Lane knock-on gave Australia possession and, two minutes in, Maddison Levi ran hard infield from the right and offloaded for her skipper, Charlotte Caslick, to dart in behind the posts.

With the six-foot Levi also soaring to take down the restart, her team’s impressive ball retention was rewarded with a fourth-minute try. Faith Nathan squeezed over in the right corner despite Béibhinn Parsons’ best efforts to force her into touch.

12-0 became 19-0 for half-time, Caslick collecting Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea’s offload and stepping off her left to beat Kathy Baker for her second try, converted by Teagan Levi.

A frantic finish to the first half had Ireland very much on the front foot, pressing deep inside the Australian 22. That was due to good work at the breakdown from Lane and Parsons, but the gold-shirted defence held firm.

Madison Ashby extended Australia’s lead in the ninth minute, making sure she was first to a well-weighted kick through from Caslick. Ireland’s response was encouraging, though.

Eve Higgins weaved through the defence, Lane sniping cleverly too to draw Australia back close to their own line. The Levi sisters did just enough to dislodge the ball from replacement Erin King’s grasp as she stretched to try and ground it.

Ireland kept Australia pinned back, eventually wearing down the defence through the running of replacements Claire Boles and Megan Burns. Mulhall and Boles got the ball wide for a fine jinking finish from the 20-year-old Elmes Kinlan.

You can watch both Ireland Sevens teams in action across the weekend on the World Rugby Sevens Series website and app.

IRELAND WOMEN’S SEVENS Squad (Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Hong Kong Stadium, Friday, March 31-Sunday, April 2, 2023):

IRELAND WOMEN’S SEVENS Schedule – Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens:

Friday, March 31 –

POOL B:

FIJI 17 IRELAND 7, Hong Kong Stadium
Scorers: Fiji: Tries: Raijieli Daveua, Meredani Qoro, Younis Bese; Con: Ana Maria Naimasi
Ireland: Try: Stacey Flood; Con: Lucy Mulhall
HT: Fiji 0 Ireland 7

Team: Stacey Flood, Kathy Baker, Béibhinn Parsons, Emily Lane, Lucy Mulhall (capt), Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe.

Subs used: Erin King, Megan Burns. Not used: Claire Boles, Kate Farrell McCabe, Vicky Elmes Kinlan.

AUSTRALIA 19 IRELAND 12, Hong Kong Stadium
Scorers: Australia: Tries: Faith Nathan, Teagan Levi, Charlotte Caslick; Cons: Teagan Levi 2
Ireland: Tries: Kathy Baker, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe; Con: Lucy Mulhall
HT: Australia 19 Ireland 7

Team: Stacey Flood, Kathy Baker, Béibhinn Parsons, Emily Lane, Lucy Mulhall (capt), Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe.

Subs used: Erin King. Not used: Megan Burns, Claire Boles, Kate Farrell McCabe, Vicky Elmes Kinlan.

Day 1 Round-Up: Ireland Women Face Battle To Reach Hong Kong’s Last-Eight

Saturday, April 1 –

POOL B:

IRELAND 34 BRAZIL 0, Hong Kong Stadium
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Eve Higgins, Béibhinn Parsons 2, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe 2, Emily Lane; Cons: Lucy Mulhall 2
Brazil: –
HT: Ireland 12 Brazil 0

Team: Stacey Flood, Kathy Baker, Béibhinn Parsons, Emily Lane, Lucy Mulhall (capt), Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe.

Subs used: Claire Boles, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Kate Farrell McCabe, Erin King, Megan Burns.

Day 2 Round-Up: Big Win Over Brazil Earns Quarter-Final Berth For Ireland Women

CUP QUARTER-FINAL:

AUSTRALIA 24 IRELAND 5, Hong Kong Stadium
Scorers: Australia: Tries: Charlotte Caslick 2, Faith Nathan, Madison Ashby; Cons: Teagan Levi
Ireland: Try: Vicky Elmes Kinlan
HT: Australia 19 Ireland 0

Team: Stacey Flood, Kathy Baker, Béibhinn Parsons, Emily Lane, Lucy Mulhall (capt), Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe.

Subs used: Erin King, Claire Boles, Megan Burns, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Kate Farrell McCabe.

Sunday, April 2 –

5TH PLACE SEMI-FINAL:

IRELAND v FRANCE, Hong Kong Stadium, kick-off 1.11pm local time/6.11am Irish time