Try scorer Vicky Elmes Kinlan celebrates with Lucy Rock (nee Mulhall), who captained the Ireland Women to a ninth place finish in Vancouver ©INPHO/Travis Prior
The Ireland Women (sponsored by TritonLake) won the 9th place final against Japan to pocket four HSBC SVNS Series points for their weekend’s work in Vancouver.
Pool defeats to Brazil – their first since 2017 – and eventual champions New Zealand derailed Ireland’s bid to maintain their medal-winning form, following on from last month’s historic tournament win in Perth.
Despite losing star winger Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe to injury, Allan Temple-Jones’ charges did close out the Canadian leg with back-to-back play-off wins over Great Britain (21-7) and Japan (12-7).
Wicklow’s Vicky Elmes Kinlan produced her best performance on the circuit to date, making five starts and scoring three tries, including a brace to overcome a tenacious Japanese team in their final game.
Elmes Kinlan, who turned 21 on Wednesday, made her SVNS Series debut in Langford, Canada just over two years ago. BC Place’s artificial pitch proved to be to her liking and she has now scored nine tries in 12 tournaments.
Having missed out on the Cup quarter-finals in Vancouver, the Ireland Women will be doubly determined to make their mark on this season’s fifth leg, which takes place in Los Angeles next weekend at Dignity Health Sports Park, the home of LA Galaxy.
The girls in green have fallen two places to sixth in the overall HSBC SVNS Series standings. They have accumulated 42 points so far, with Canada and the USA (both 48) climbing above them this weekend. Australia remain out in front on 72 points.
Elmes Kinlan struck for the opening try against Japan after just 21 seconds, outfoxing two defenders out wide with her quick footwork and then a burst of pace to take her clear and in towards the posts.
Eve Higgins was right in the thick of the early action, having put her body on the line to win captain Lucy Rock’s kick-off. Japan had most of the possession in response, and a fourth-minute breakaway effort from Marin Kajiki edged them in front.
Hanako Utsumi’s conversion was the difference between the sides at half-time, giving the Sakura Sevens a 7-5 advantage. Higgins continued to be a central figure, stepping up in defence to make two crucial tackles as Japan threatened to score again.
Successive penalties allowed Japan to keep knocking on the door, with most of the second half play in and around the Irish 22. Nonetheless, Stacey Flood won a key decision at the breakdown to launch the girls in green forward.
Erin King, Higgins and Elmes Kinlan made good ground, and just when the Irish attack looked to be petering out, replacement King redeemed herself for throwing a loose offload by winning a turnover penalty.
King tapped and went quickly inside the Japanese 22, linking with Rock and Higgins, who was able to pass out of a tackle and give Elmes Kinlan a straightforward finish from eight metres out. Her 13th-minute score, converted by Rock, proved to be the match winner.
King kept the energy high with a ball-dislodging tackle, and fellow replacement Lucinda Kinghan was swiftly in to secure possession on the ground. A final penalty allowed Rock to kick the ball dead and confirm a hard-fought victory.
Megan Burns (Blackrock College RFC)
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union RFC)
Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC)
Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC)
Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC)
Lucinda Kinghan (Railway Union RFC)
Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC)
Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC)
Kate Farrell McCabe (Suttonians RFC)
Lucy Rock (nee Mulhall) (Wicklow RFC) (capt)
Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC)
Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC)
Vikki Wall (Ireland Sevens)
Friday, February 23 –
POOL A:
IRELAND 28 SOUTH AFRICA 7, BC Place
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe 2, Stacey Flood, Béibhinn Parsons; Cons: Lucy Rock 4
South Africa: Try: Nadine Roos; Con: Nadine Roos
HT: Ireland 14 South Africa 0
Team: Béibhinn Parsons, Stacey Flood, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Aoibheann Reilly, Lucy Rock (capt), Megan Burns, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe.
Replacements used: Eve Higgins, Emily Lane, Erin King, Lucinda Kinghan. Not used: Kate Farrell McCabe.
IRELAND 7 BRAZIL 24, BC Place
Scorers: Ireland: Try: Béibhinn Parsons; Con: Lucy Rock
Brazil: Tries: Bianca Silva, Thalia Costa 2, Gabriela Lima; Cons: Luiza Campos 2
HT: Ireland 0 Brazil 12
Team: Béibhinn Parsons, Stacey Flood, Eve Higgins, Aoibheann Reilly, Lucy Rock (capt), Megan Burns, Vicky Elmes Kinlan.
Replacements used: Emily Lane, Erin King, Kate Farrell McCabe. Not used: Lucinda Kinghan, Vikki Wall.
Saturday, February 24 –
POOL A:
IRELAND 5 NEW ZEALAND 43, BC Place
Scorers: Ireland: Try: Béibhinn Parsons
New Zealand: Tries: Shiray Kaka, Michaela Blyde 2, Risi Pouri-Lane 2, Tysha Ikenasio, Jorja Miller; Cons: Tyla King 2, Manaia Nuku 2
HT: Ireland 0 New Zealand 22
Team: Béibhinn Parsons, Stacey Flood, Eve Higgins, Emily Lane, Lucy Rock (capt), Megan Burns, Vicky Elmes Kinlan.
Replacements used: Erin King, Aoibheann Reilly, Kate Farrell McCabe, Vikki Wall, Lucinda Kinghan.
9TH PLACE SEMI-FINAL:
IRELAND 21 GREAT BRITAIN 7, BC Place
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Emily Lane, Eve Higgins, Vicky Elmes Kinlan; Cons: Lucy Rock 3
Great Britain: Try: Ellie Boatman; Con: Isla Norman-Bell
HT: Ireland 7 Great Britain 0
Team: Béibhinn Parsons, Stacey Flood, Eve Higgins, Emily Lane, Lucy Rock (capt), Megan Burns, Vicky Elmes Kinlan.
Replacements used: Erin King, Kate Farrell McCabe, Aoibheann Reilly, Lucinda Kinghan. Not used: Vikki Wall.
Day 2 Round-Up: Ireland Women Aim To Put Pool Disappointment Behind Them In Vancouver
Sunday, February 25 –
9TH PLACE FINAL:
JAPAN 7 IRELAND 12, BC Place
Scorers: Japan: Try: Marin Kajiki; Con: Hanako Utsumi
Ireland: Tries: Vicky Elmes Kinlan 2; Con: Lucy Rock
HT: Japan 7 Ireland 5
Team: Béibhinn Parsons, Stacey Flood, Eve Higgins, Emily Lane, Lucy Rock (capt), Megan Burns, Vicky Elmes Kinlan.
Replacements used: Erin King, Aoibheann Reilly, Lucinda Kinghan, Vikki Wall. Not used: Kate Farrell McCabe.
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