Ulster Rugby v Munster

ULSTER WOMEN’S SQUAD FORWARDS Ilse van Staden Cooke Alanagh Chipperfield Cooke Beth Cregan Cooke Sorcha Mac Laimhin Cooke Neve Jones Malone Victoria Jackson Queens University Aishling O'Connell Co. Cavan Lesley Megarity Cooke Hannah Beattie Cooke Sapphire Dudley Ballynahinch Rebecca Smyth Cooke Helen McGhee Cooke Amanda McGinn Ballynahinch Gemma McCutcheon Cooke Storm Cobain Ballynahinch Claire Boles Railway Union Nicole Watterson Queens University Stacey Fluke Ballynahinch Shauna Hagen Monaghan BACKS Kathryn Dane Old Belvedere Larissa Muldoon Railway Union Amy Graham Cooke Nicole Caughey Railway Union Victoria Irwin Cooke Peita McAlister Malone Ashleigh Baxter Cooke Lauren Magennis Cooke

on the inside and took the final pass to score and make it 5-0 for half-time. In the second period, Munster began to take charge and added to their tally with tries from Chloe Pearse (46 minutes), Niamh Kavanagh (50) and Laura Sheehan (59). One of the scores was converted by Ellen Murphy to leave the home side in a commanding position. To their credit, Ulster never threw in the towel and replied with a try of their own from replacement Amy Graham, but Munster added a late gloss with further tries from Edel Murphy and replacement Christine Arthurs. MUNSTER SCORERS Tries: Rachel Allen, Chloe Pearse, Niamh Kavanagh, Laura Sheehan, Edel Murphy, Christine Arthurs; Con: Ellen Murphy ULSTER SCORERS Try: Amy Graham ROUND 3 ULSTER WOMEN 7 CONNACHT WOMEN 29 The Ulster Women finished off their 2017 Interprovincial Series with a disappointing 29-7 victory at home to Connacht on Saturday 16th December. Captained by flanker Grainne Egan, Connacht finished their campaign in style with a deserved bonus point win over a youthful Ulster side at Befast Harlequins RFC. Ulster fought hard throughout the game at Belfast Harlequins RFC but were overpowered by the visitors who led 19-0 at the break following tries from star international winger Alison Miller, Jane O'Neill and Orla Dixon. Tullow out-half Hilary Griffin landed two conversions. The Ulster Women hit back with a well-taken try from promising centre Brittany Hogan, but Connacht were not going to be derailed. The ever-threatening Miller completed her brace and Ireland-capped hooker Ciara O'Connor, who was arguably the province's best performer over the three rounds, showed deft footwork to make it five tries for Naughton's charges. ULSTER SCORERS Try: Brittany Hogan; Con: Beth Cregan CONNACHT SCORERS Tries: Alison Miller 2, Jane O'Neill, Orla Dixon, Ciara O'Connor; Cons: Hilary Griffin 2 Reflecting on the series, Ulster Women’s Head Coach Derek Suffern commented: “We are very disappointed with the results in the series and are fully aware that improvements need to be made over the next few years. “With a young squad we are all very excited about the future and very confident that results will come our way if we keep working hard. “We would like to thank everyone involved with the Ulster Women’s squad this year and look forward to seeing this young squad produce results in the near future.”

ULSTER WOMEN’S RUGBY UPDATE

Eliza Downey Cooke Brittany Hogan Cooke Emma Jordan Cooke Leah McGoldrick Cooke Teah Maguire Cooke Alison Boal Malone Claire Johnston Cooke Claire McLaughlin Cooke Jemma Jackson Cooke Nicole Jones Lisburn Diane Ramsey Queens Ella Durkin Malone Dolores Hughes Co. Cavan Rachel McIlroy Queens Zarah Ryan Malone Danielle Heasley Lisburn

Jasmine Boyd Malone Niamh Walsh Co. Cavan MANAGEMENT TEAM Ulster Women's Performance Consultant: Derek Suffern Head Coach: Davy Chambers Assistant Coach: James McBriar S&C Coach: Paul Heasley Team Manager: Gillian McAlister Squad Physio: Aine Conway

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