The Ireland Women's Sevens team (sponsored by TritonLake) will face familiar rivals France at the semi-final stage of the Algarve Sevens on Sunday (kick-off 11.36am).
There have been four successive starts this weekend for Blessington teenager Erin King, who only turns 20 in October, Kate Farrell McCabe (22), Megan Burns (23) and 21-year-old flyer Béibhinn Parsons, the top try scorer with seven tries so far.
Day two of the Portuguese tournament began with Spain's defence proving tough to break down. Ireland's early control of possession was rewarded, though, when Burns offloaded for captain Stacey Flood to raid over from the right.
However, the Spanish built from a penalty and a lineout just before half-time, setting up a sidestepping Maria Garcia to steal a march on Parsons and make it five points apiece.
Parsons responded with a terrific try early on the restart, using Flood's bouncing pass to accelerate away from two players and stay clear of Garcia for a 60-metre run-in.
https://twitter.com/rugby_europe/status/1667460846857990146?cxt=HHwWhMC93cezgaQuAAAA
Farrell McCabe's well-struck conversion from the right proved important in the end, as Spain profited from Katie Heffernan's 11th-minute sin-binning to draw back level.
Garcia was the creator, leading a break down the right wing which was halted by Parsons, but she managed to release the ball back for Paula Requena to score behind the posts. Cristina Lopez's conversion ensured a share of the spoils.
Emily Lane was quickest off the mark to edge Ireland ahead in their quarter-final clash with Czechia. After Flood had gobbled up a loose ball, the Cork native glided through a gap for an impressive try from halfway.
Burns and Parsons were next to threaten before busy forward King stepped inside past two defenders to score in the third minute and extend the lead to 10-0.
A Burns pass just had too much on it as Parsons lurked on the right wing for a potential score, and while both defences were tested out wide early in the second period, it was the Czechs who put points on the board.
Julie Dolezilova got away from replacement Gorman to score to the left of the posts, but Ireland produced a strong two-try finish to move on to the next round of the Cup competition.
Replacement Claire Boles' excellent offload off the ground found Burns who spun the ball wide for Gorman to gallop over from the edge of the Czech 22, and Higgins' arcing run earned her seven points past the final hooter.
https://twitter.com/rugby_europe/status/1667573013754028033?cxt=HHwWgoCxncS0tKQuAAAA
You can watch all the matches live as they happen from the Algarve Sevens here on www.rugbyeurope.tv (free registration).
Watch live on www.rugbyeurope.tv (free registration)
Ireland finished top of Pool B after drawing 12-all with Spain, before closing tries from Clare Gorman and Eve Higgins sealed a 22-5 quarter-final win over a battling Czechia side. With Olympic qualification secured, the first leg of the Rugby Europe Sevens Championship Series has afforded coach Allan Temple-Jones the chance to give game-time to the younger members of the squad, including Gorman on her debut.
There have been four successive starts this weekend for Blessington teenager Erin King, who only turns 20 in October, Kate Farrell McCabe (22), Megan Burns (23) and 21-year-old flyer Béibhinn Parsons, the top try scorer with seven tries so far.
Day two of the Portuguese tournament began with Spain's defence proving tough to break down. Ireland's early control of possession was rewarded, though, when Burns offloaded for captain Stacey Flood to raid over from the right.
However, the Spanish built from a penalty and a lineout just before half-time, setting up a sidestepping Maria Garcia to steal a march on Parsons and make it five points apiece.
Parsons responded with a terrific try early on the restart, using Flood's bouncing pass to accelerate away from two players and stay clear of Garcia for a 60-metre run-in.
https://twitter.com/rugby_europe/status/1667460846857990146?cxt=HHwWhMC93cezgaQuAAAA
Farrell McCabe's well-struck conversion from the right proved important in the end, as Spain profited from Katie Heffernan's 11th-minute sin-binning to draw back level.
Garcia was the creator, leading a break down the right wing which was halted by Parsons, but she managed to release the ball back for Paula Requena to score behind the posts. Cristina Lopez's conversion ensured a share of the spoils.
Emily Lane was quickest off the mark to edge Ireland ahead in their quarter-final clash with Czechia. After Flood had gobbled up a loose ball, the Cork native glided through a gap for an impressive try from halfway.
Burns and Parsons were next to threaten before busy forward King stepped inside past two defenders to score in the third minute and extend the lead to 10-0.
A Burns pass just had too much on it as Parsons lurked on the right wing for a potential score, and while both defences were tested out wide early in the second period, it was the Czechs who put points on the board.
Julie Dolezilova got away from replacement Gorman to score to the left of the posts, but Ireland produced a strong two-try finish to move on to the next round of the Cup competition.
Replacement Claire Boles' excellent offload off the ground found Burns who spun the ball wide for Gorman to gallop over from the edge of the Czech 22, and Higgins' arcing run earned her seven points past the final hooter.
https://twitter.com/rugby_europe/status/1667573013754028033?cxt=HHwWgoCxncS0tKQuAAAA
You can watch all the matches live as they happen from the Algarve Sevens here on www.rugbyeurope.tv (free registration).