Girls in Green Go Down to the French
The Ireland Women’s quest for a second Six Nations win goes on after they were beaten 20-0 by a strong French side at Thomond Park on Saturday night.
The Ireland Women’s quest for a second Six Nations win goes on after they were beaten 20-0 by a strong French side at Thomond Park on Saturday night.
A vociferous crowd was treated to a frantic start as France piled on early pressure and came away with three points from the boot of fullback Estelle Sartini.
Sarah-Jane Belton missed the chance to put the sides level and France put themselves further ahead with a try, through centre Sandrine Agricole and the conversion from Sartini before the break.
Ireland came to life in the first ten minutes of the second half but despite a super break from Belton, their attacking chances came to little, with France returning the pressure and scoring again from an extended lineout through number eight Clotilde Flaugere. the final score of the game came from out half Christelle Le Duff.
Ireland: Sarah Jane Belton (UL Bohemians); Nicki Milne (Worcester), Suzanne Fleming capt (Cooke ), Patrique Kelly (UL Bohemians), Lynne Cantwell (UL Bohemians); Joanne O’Sullivan (Nottingham), Louise Beamish (UL Bohemians); Gillian McAllister (Cooke), Jean Lonergan (Shannon), Edel Coen (Highfield); Rosie Foley (Shannon), Anne Marie McAllister (Shannon); Rachel Boyd (Cooke), Fiona Steed (Shannon), Joy Neville (Shannon).
Replacements: Serena Stirling(Cooke) for Edel Coen 75, Fiona Coughlan (UL Bohemians) for Gillian McAllister 62, Jen Leacy (Blackrock) for Anne Marie McAllister 62, Rachel Reid (Cooke) for Rachel Boyd 72, Lesley Coulter (Cooke), Amanda Greensmith (Shannon) for Sarah-Jane Belton 77, Nuala NiChadhain (Galwegians).
France: Estelle Sartini (Caen RC), Catherine Devillers (USA), Sandrine Agricole (CSM Gennevilliers), Delphine Plantet (US Herm), Corrine Lemazurier (Caen RC), Christelle Le Duff (CSM Gennevilliers), Julie Pujol (US Herm), Delphine Roussel (CSM Gennevilliers), Odile Soerl capt (Caen RC), Fanny Gelis (USA Touloges XV), Maylis Bonnin (USA Limoges), Alexia Massacand (Wasps), Aline Sagols (USA Toulouges XV), Sophie Serres (USA Toulouges XV), Clitilde Flaugere (Bourg en Bresse).
Replacements: Daniele Irazu (US Herm) for Estelle Sartini 60, Martine Roy (Bourg en Basse) for Alexia Massacand 75, Carole Moise (AS Beziers Herault) for Catherine Devilliers (75), Marion Talayrac (USA Toulouges XV) for Sandrine Agricole 71, Sandrina Girardi (CSM Gennevilliers) for Julie Pujol 71, Laetitia Salles (USA Toulouges XV) for Odile Sorel 77