Ireland Women Maintain Unbeaten Form At Algarve Sevens

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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.

⚡️ Beibhinn Parsons flying down the line for @IrishRugby! pic.twitter.com/1Aa7tqwzGL

— Rugby Europe (@rugby_europe) June 10, 2023

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.

☘️ v 🇨🇿 | @IrishRugby were made to work for it, but they've booked their place in the semi-final with a win against @ceske_ragby. pic.twitter.com/dOmEkDhBGW

— Rugby Europe (@rugby_europe) June 10, 2023

 

You can watch all the matches live as they happen from the Algarve Sevens here on www.rugbyeurope.tv (free registration).

IRELAND WOMEN’S SEVENS Squad (Rugby Europe Sevens Championship Series – Leg 1, Algarve Sevens, Portugal, Friday, June 9-Sunday, June 11, 2023):

Claire Boles (Railway Union RFC)
Megan Burns (Blackrock College RFC)
Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC) (capt)
Clare Gorman (Old Belvedere RFC)
Katie Heffernan (Railway Union RFC)
Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC)
Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC)
Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC)
Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC)
Kate Farrell McCabe (Suttonians RFC)
Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC)
Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC)

IRELAND WOMEN’S SEVENS Schedule – Algarve Sevens:

Friday, June 9 –

POOL B:

IRELAND 27 SWEDEN 0, Sports Complex Vila Real de Santo António, Algarve
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Béibhinn Parsons 3, Eve Higgins, Megan Burns; Con: Kate Farrell McCabe
Sweden: –
HT: Ireland 10 Sweden 0

Watch Match Video

Team: Anna McGann, Katie Heffernan, Erin King, Kate Farrell McCabe, Eve Higgins, Megan Burns, Béibhinn Parsons.

Subs used: Claire Boles, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Emily Lane, Stacey Flood (capt), Clare Gorman.

IRELAND 43 GERMANY 5, Sports Complex Vila Real de Santo António, Algarve
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Kate Farrell McCabe, Béibhinn Parsons 3, Claire Boles, Clare Gorman, Vicky Elmes Kinlan; Cons: Eve Higgins 4
Germany: Try: Steffi Gruber
HT: Ireland 21 Germany 5

Watch Match Video

Team: Anna McGann, Katie Heffernan, Erin King, Kate Farrell McCabe, Eve Higgins, Megan Burns, Béibhinn Parsons.

Subs used: Claire Boles, Emily Lane, Clare Gorman, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Stacey Flood (capt).

Day 1 Round-Up: Parsons Picks Up Two Hat-Tricks As Ireland Women Start Strongly In Algarve

Saturday, June 10 –

POOL B:

IRELAND 12 SPAIN 12, Sports Complex Vila Real de Santo António, Algarve
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Stacey Flood, Béibhinn Parsons; Con: Kate Farrell McCabe
Spain: Tries: Maria Garcia, Paula Requena; Con: Cristina Lopez
HT: Ireland 5 Spain 5

Watch Match Video

Team: Stacey Flood (capt), Claire Boles, Erin King, Emily Lane, Kate Farrell McCabe, Megan Burns, Béibhinn Parsons.

Subs used: Katie Heffernan, Eve Higgins, Anna McGann, Vicky Elmes Kinlan.

CUP QUARTER-FINAL:

IRELAND 22 CZECHIA 5, Sports Complex Vila Real de Santo António, Algarve
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Emily Lane, Erin King, Clare Gorman, Eve Higgins; Con: Eve Higgins
Czechia: Try: Julie Dolezilova
HT: Ireland 10 Czechia 0

Watch Match Video

Team: Stacey Flood (capt), Katie Heffernan, Erin King, Emily Lane, Kate Farrell McCabe, Megan Burns, Béibhinn Parsons.

Subs used: Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Clare Gorman, Anna McGann, Claire Boles, Eve Higgins.

Sunday, June 11 –

CUP SEMI-FINAL:

IRELAND v FRANCE, Sports Complex Vila Real de Santo António, Algarve, 11.36am local time/Irish time