Ulster fall to Connacht in opening interpro

Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship

Ulster (5) 10

Tries: Boles, Barrett

Connacht (5) 15

Tries: McGann 2 Con: Deely Pen: Deely

A dominant second-half performance by Connacht saw the western province inflict a painful 15-10 defeat on Ulster in their opening match of the Interprovincial Championship at Affidea Stadium.

Two tries by the dangerous Irish international Anna McGann and a penalty from the boot of Meabh Deely saw the visitors clinch victory after a hard-fought contest.

Just four minutes in, a cross-field kick from Meabh Deeley found McGann and there was no stopping the wing who used her explosive pace to get over for the opening score of the game.

Deely missed the conversion but Connacht continued to look threatening, with an immense carry from Faith Oviawe and a cross-field kick to Ava Ryder edging them close to the try-line on two separate occasions, but Ulster stayed patient and disciplined to keep the visitors from scoring again.

At the mid-way point of the half, Kara Mulcahy was shown a yellow card for failing to retreat 10 metres when making a tackle after a quick tap penalty from Ulster’s Rachael McIlroy and the home side continued to edge their way forward.

An already special day for Claire Boles, as she captained the team in the absence of the injured India Daley, got even better as she dotted down for Ulster’s first try of the campaign.

Craig Hansberry’s side looked to edge ahead before the break, but Meabh Deely kicked the ball dead and both teams returned to the changing rooms with the scores level at 5-5.

The second half started slowly but Ulster got the home crowd behind them and roaring, as they took the lead for the first time when Sophie Barrett went crashing over, although again they could not add the extras.

However, the visitors suddenly shifted the momentum in the final quarter with McGann typically to the fore with ball in hand before she accelerated from close range to get her second score of the game.

This time Deely’s was accurate with the conversion to give the westerners a two-point lead.

Ulster attempted to force their way back through a monstrous scrum but they were penalised for crossing and player of the match Deely added another three points off the tee to give her side breathing room.

Skipper Boles searched desperately for a way back into the game for her side but with time running out, Connacht did enough to hold on for victory.

Ulster will now head to Energia Park to face Munster on 15 August (16:30pm BST), before returning to the Affidea Stadium in Round 3 a week later to conclude the round-robin against Leinster.

‘We’ll be back with all our fight’

Speaking to BBC Sport NI, Ireland back-row Boles felt her side lost control of the game in the closing stages.

“We came out strong in the first half, but we kind of lost our way in the second half and let Connacht get ahead.

“We were pushing to get back into it in the last five minutes, but it just wasn’t our day.

“We’ll focus on trying to control the match in those last five minutes more and where to play and where not to play.”

Despite the defeat, she said she was both proud of the side’s efforts and to lead out the squad.

“I’m so proud to have captained. I love being from Ulster, it’s my home.

“Each and every one of the girls makes you want to play harder and I’m so proud of them all.

“There are a lot of tough girls in our squad and there’s a lot of belief in us for the next few games and although it didn’t go our way, it’s closer than any of our other games and we’ll be back with all our fight.”

Ulster: Niamh Marley; Katie Gilmour, Caitlin Crowe, Lucy Thompson, Siobhan Sheerin; Abby Moyles, Rachael McIlroy; Sadhbh McGrath, Maebh Clenaghan, Sophie Barrett; Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan, Rebecca Beacom; Moya Hill, Christy Hill, Claire Boles (capt).

Replacements: Emily Whittle, Sarah Roberts, Ava Fannin, Ellen Patterson, Katie Hetherington, Amy McConkey, Leah Irwin, Ella Durkan.

Connacht: Clara Barrett; Anna McGann, Lyndsay Clarke, Siofra Hession, Ava Ryder; Meabh Deely, Aoibheann Reilly (co-capt); Ella Burns, Kara Mulcahy, Lily Morris; Faith Oviawe, Emma Fabby; Emma Kelly, Ailish Quinn (co-capt), Jemima Adams Verling.

Replacements: Stacy Hanley, Laura Scuffil, Hannah Rapley, Olivia Tallon, Hannah Johnston, Gráinne Moran, Alanna Fitzpatrick, Emily Foley.