LINLEY MACKENZIE
Connacht Rugby Women provided a real glimpse of their potential despite suffering a 38-19 loss to title-holders Leinster in their opening Vodafone Interprovincial Championship fixture at Energia Park on Saturday.
Behind by 26-7 at half time, Connacht grabbed the initiative, dominated possession and posted another two tries, but the damage had been inflicted by their hosts in the opening 45 minutes as they succeeded in avenging last season’s loss in Dexcom Stadum.
Connacht head coach Emer O’Dowd, was both “sad and happy with the performance”.
“It was a tale of two halves. The first half we let ourselves down, played in fits and starts, and at half-time I told them some home truths.
“I cannot fault their effort in the second half. We scored three tries and probably should have had four if not five [tries], but we need to protect the ball more and be a bit more clinical.”
A young Connacht squad was not helped by the absence of three key players, injured scrumhalf Aoibheann Reilly, Kayla Waldron, and Olympian Béibhinn Parsons, but Leinster, having been stung by their loss to Connacht last season, were in rampant form in the opening half. By the break they had posted four tries, while Connacht’s only response came after the introduction of Faith Oviawe.
It was a measure of Connacht’s perseverance that they eventually made a breakthrough. After three attempts to maul their way over the line, the try was eventually delivered by Oviawe, who had the strength to push through. It was a much-needed response as Connacht began to get to the grips with the game’s physicality.
Leinster, though, were very much the dominant force, and exploited space out wide to the maximum. When fullback Emma Till broke through in the 46th minute for their fourth try, Leinster had the game wrapped up.
Within minutes of the restart the visitors leaked another through Caoimhe Molloy as Leinster continued to stretch Connacht’s defensive frailties. Thereafter, however, Connacht found their feet, delivering continuity and some strong passages of play that deserved more on the scoreboard.
Eventually, after the pack did well to retain possession, Nicole Fowley kicked them into position with Laoise McGonagle adding a deserved second try, and the Connacht outhalf nearly provided another, kicking to the corner again, but on this occasion the Leinster defence prevailed.
The hosts, however, bagged a rare chance in the second half to score again when scrumhalf Katie Whelan broke through from the wing, but Connacht, whose confidence continued to grow, delivered another deserved try before the whistle with Oviawe adding to her tally. Fowley, an ever present figure in the Connacht XV, added a superb kick from the sideline.
Despite the loss, there were many positives, including the addition of Connacht prop Ella Burns.
“Our 18-years-old prop Ella packed down against an international. For her to step up in that arena was outstanding.”
Connacht now head to Belfast where they face Ulster at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday (2.30pm ) before the final clash at home against Munster on August 24.
“We would hope to have 5,000 in the Sportsground, and I implore every single supporter to be there. We want to fill the Sportsground and see a sea of green.”
Leinster: E Tilly; E Roberts, A Dalton, C Martin, A Clarke; N Caughey, K Whelan; A Moore, S Delaney, L Djougang; R Campbell, E Corri; H O’Connor (capt ), M Boyne, C Molloy. Replacements: J O'Connor for Delaney 76 ), K Layde for Djougang 69, C Haney for Moore 52, C Dunne for Corri 61, J Neill for Molloy 61, J Farrell for Caughey 61, A Hughes for Clarke 58, L Tarpey for Martin 61.
Connacht: M Deely; L McGonagle, A Ryder, É Nic Dhonnacha, C Barrett; N Fowley (co-capt ), G Moran; E Burns, L Brady, M Collis; O Fenton, R Searle; B Gleeson, L Ring, S Touhey (co-capt ). Replacements: S Hanley for Brady 61, E Connolly for Burns 61, R Maher for Collis 23-61, F Oviawe for Fenton 30, Karly Tierney for Ring 52, M Goulding for Moran 52, O Dixon for Ryder 52, E Foley for Barrett 52.
