Leinster Women Are Crowned Champions

Munster’s five-year stranglehold on the IRFU Women’s Interprovincial Championship title was ended by arch rivals Leinster on Saturday, as Dan van Zyl’s side recorded an impressive 25-5 victory at Highfield RFC.

IRFU WOMEN’S INTERPROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS:

ROUND 1 –

ULSTER 3 LEINSTER 26, Ravenhill
CONNACHT 18 MUNSTER 28, Corinthians RFC

ROUND 2 –

MUNSTER 18 ULSTER 12, Garryowen FC
LEINSTER 11 CONNACHT 0, Ashbourne RFC

ROUND 3 –

MUNSTER 5 LEINSTER 25, Highfield RFC
ULSTER 15 CONNACHT 12, Ballymoney RFC

In their final game, Leinster beat reigning champions Munster 25-5 at Highfield RFC to clinch a memorable Interprovincial title success.

Tries from Shannon Houston, Paula Fitzpatrick and Ciara Kennedy as well as 10 points from the boot of Old Belvedere out-half Nora Stapleton were enough to give the visitors a deserved and convincing victory in Cork.

Fiona Coghlan, the Ireland Women’s captain, led Leinster through an unbeaten campaign which also included wins over Ulster at Ravenhill and Connacht at Ashbourne RFC.

Meanwhile, Ulster picked up their first win of the Championship on the final day to finish third overall. Benjy Van Der Byl’s side secured a 15-12 victory over Connacht in a tightly-contested clash in Ballymoney.

First half tries from Laura Nichol and Sorcha Chipperfield set the hosts on the way, and Poppy Cleal also touched down in the second period.

Connacht will take some solace from a much-improved display after the break. Their captain Alison Miller crossed for a brace of tries and Clare Raftery converted one of them, but Ulster held on in determined fashion.