News article – Style E 6198
Ireland captain Sarahjane Belton hailed her side’s first win at the IRB Women’s World Cup as fantastic as it led them into next week’s 5th-8th place play-offs.
…Sarahjane Belton…
Ireland captain Sarahjane Belton hailed her side’s first win at the IRB Women’s World Cup as fantastic as it led them into next week’s 5th-8th place play-offs.
Belton, playing at full-back and not in her usual role of out-half, had a big influence on the Irish securing eighth position in the final pool table, courtesy of their 37-0 defeat of South Africa.
The girls in green finished level on five points with the ninth-placed Samoans, but boast a better points scored difference, and Belton’s second half try and her set-up of Mairead Kelly’s late touch down gave Ireland that much-needed buffer.
They face Scotland at St. Albert RFC on Tuesday (kick-off 12am Irish time).
Speaking the aftermath in Edmonton, Belton said: “It feels fantastic (to have won our first game). We have been building for this the entire time. We knew that we were capable of putting together that kind of effort, and we are pleased to have done it today.”
The UL Bohemians and Munster star was quick to give credit to the Irish pack for their role in the victory. Number eight Joy Neville’s eighth-minute try set the tone and the lineout mauling in the second half buoyed the team’s management on the sidelines.
She added: “I felt that our dominance of the set piece, and in particular our ability to maul the ball for some long stretches helped us immensely in the match.”