Women Rugby: Ireland – 55 Japan – 0

Ireland got their season off to a flying start in Donnybrook on Sunday as they overcame Japan 55-0 turning in a clinical display scoring 9 tries to none.

Ireland – 55 Japan – 0

Ireland got their season off to a flying start in Donnybrook on Sunday as they overcame Japan 55-0 turning in a clinical display scoring 9 tries to none. In their first outing of the season, the Irish women’s team were the far superior team for virtually the whole match, with the Japanese only managing any sort of sustained pressure during the first 10 minutes of the match.

Stars of very impressive team display were winger Lynne Cantwell, who scored four tries, inside centre Patrique Kelly, scrumhalf Tania Rosser, Number 8 Joy Neville and outhalf SarahJane Belton, who captained the team for the first time.

Scorers:
Tries – L. Cantwell (4), P. Kelly (2), J. Neville, N. NiChadhain, SJ Belton
Conversions – SJ Belton (5)
Ireland:
Amanda Greensmith (Shannon),
Nuala Ni Chaidhan (Galwegians),
Suzanne Fleming (Cooke),
Patrique Kelly (UL Bohemians),
Lynne Cantwell (UL Bohemians),
SarahJane Belton (c) (UL Bohemians),
Tania Rosser (Blackrock)
Fiona Coughlan (vc) (UL Bohemians),
Jean Lonergan (Shannon),
Edel Coen (UL Bohemians),
Rosie Foley (Shannon),
Jen Leacy (Blackrock),
Rachel Boyd (Cooke),
Rachel Tucker (UL Bohemians),
Joy Neville (Shannon).

Replacements:
Maura Coulter (Boyne) – for E. Coen 60 mins,
Emma Stanley (UL Bohemians) – for J. Lonergan 70 mins,
Germaine Healy (Blackrock) – for J. Leacy 60 mins,
Orla Brennan (Navan)
Louise Beamish (UL Bohemians),
Denise Tracey (Shannon),
Grace Davitt (Boyne)

Japan:
Miho Udagawa,
Angela Elting,
Tae Enomoto,
Yuka Honma,
Chie Kojima,
Keiko Asami (Capt.),
Marie Hamada,
Aiko Shikanai,
Makiko Ide,
Fujiko Namiki,
Chikako Sasaki,
Tomoko Noguchi,
Takako Matssudaira,
Mami Okada,
Ayumi Inui

Replacements (all used):
Saya Nagata,
Miyuki Takahashi,
Naoko Kato,
Tsukasa Tsujimoto,
Maya Okada,
Tomoko Tajima,
Naoko Hasebe