Reports from Womens Rugby

Barnhall 51 Clontarf 5
Sunday 7th of October 2007

Upon the request of Clontarf who were short of players at the last minute Barnhall played 13-a-side for their first ever home league match.
The match started well with the Barnhall forwards flying around the park and getting clean balls out to the backs. Although there were some great tackles being put in by Clontarf it was only a matter of time before the ball found its way to speedy Jenny Daly to secure the first try of the match.
Ceira Waters began with fierce intent, making several breaks down her wing in the first 15 minutes, gaining serious yards and keeping the solid Clontarf defense on their toes. As the big hits continued some great work mauling and rucking got the Barnhall pack onto the try line where number 8 Shona Doyle drove the ball over for another 5 points.
Superb throwing from rookie hooker Reggie O'Reilly allowed the Barnhall number 4 Orla Fitzsimons to win several great line out balls, where the backs used their skill and speed to put several more tries down before half time. These were nicely converted by kicker Trish Moore
The second half saw the Barnhall attack get stronger as the forwards won ball while centre Grainne Carroll and out half Susie Cagney helped tease out spaces in the Clontarf line to allow magnificent tries from huge runs by Barbara Mulvany and Aoife Nagle. Despite Clontarf's ability to put up a huge fight with only 12 players on the pitch a noticeable impression was made as the determination and strength of first timer Sarah Sheil was let loose in the forwards. A nice variety of tries from Ceira Waters, Barbara Mulvany and Jenny Daly secured the match with a particularly delightful final score of 51-5.
We have a couple of weeks of heavy training to develop our game further so if you enjoyed that match you really don't want to miss what we have up our sleeves for the 28 th Oct when we show Longford how ‘Barnhall Babes' do it on their home turf. See you there!

UCD 15 Barnhall 34
Sunday 30th of September 2007

We started the game with a squad of 20 girls. The first half started well with Jenny Daly at full back running the ball back at the opposition and linking well with her wingers. Ciara Waters played very well at centre, showing her great handling skills and linking well with her backs. Trish Moore received a beautiful pass from the ruck and ran down the left wing, tearing in at the last second to put it down right under the post. The girls showed great determination and a desire to win that brought the half time score in at 15-10.
Second half saw the opposition change their style of play to maul the ball, but our forwards got stuck in. New Barnhall Recruit Ann Carroll, and NUI prop star Grace Crehan gave it their all while the backs prepared to take it over the line again. Again Trish Moore, now playing inside centre pulled off some awesome sidestepping to dodge cleanly past 2 of the UCD defenders and get the try, finishing the job in style herself with an extra 2 points from the conversion. The Blue Babes dermined and hot footed attack saw another 2 tries in this half, as number 8 Shona Doyle powered through with the ball and making a lot of hard yards. Orla at second row was all over the pitch, managing to win great line out ball and tackling with great passion. She fully deserved her title of man of the match.
Final Score 34-15, and no injuries. Looking forward to Clontarf next weekend.

Blitz in Longford
Sunday the 16th of September 2007
Click here for Pictures

Barnhall RFC's Blue Babes kicked off their first season in league rugby with a runner up spot in their first ever blitz. The girls, most of whom have been playing rugby for just two weeks, exceeded all expectations when after narrowly losing to home side Longford they went on to beat the experienced Div. 3 Portlaoise team 12 points to 7.
Orla Fitzsimons in her first ever rugby match won the Man of the Match award with a huge tackle count and a dominating lineout performance against Longford. Along with big performances from Shona Doyle, Sophie Bagnall and half-time substitute Ceira Waters, who scored a magnificent try from inside her own 22, the ladies from Parsonstown did themselves proud, but couldn't overcome a strong Longford side who won 12-7.
Longford then went on to face Portlaoise, but were no match for the pace of the more experienced side and were well beaten 26-0 in their second match. Portlaoise then went to face Barnhall in the final match of the day. Their kick-off was caught by Barnhall hooker and team manager Jennie Coleman who ran at her opponents making a twenty metre gain. Barnhalls mobile pack and quick off-loading style of play proved too much for the Portlaois team as full back Jenny Daly scored two magnificent tries to put the Blue Babes twelve nil up.
Portlaoise came back however, competing aggressively in ruck and maul situations.
Barnhalls defence held strong as Doyle, Daly and Lisa Cassidy managed to hold up the Portlaoise maul and forced them to concede multiple penalties, but the ladies from Portlaoise were relentless and their efforts were rewarded with their only try, five minutes from the end of the match to leave the final score 12-7.
The organisers and officials quickly convened and announced that because Barnhall and Portlaoise were now level, they would have to play again in a fifteen minute sudden death match with the first team to score winning the tournament.
The pressure was on as Barnhall kicked off and Portlaoise promptly stepped up their game and applied pressure to the inexperienced Barnhall defensive line. Within minutes Portlaoise had set up camp on the Barnhall try line and for five full minutes attacked the Blue Babes with everything they had. But Barnhall managed to repel their attack, holding firm on the fringes and out wide where Ann Marie Flaherty and Trish Moore controlled the three quarter line.
Frustration won in the end as Portlaoise gave away a penalty for handling in the ruck. The Blue Babes in true Barnhall style decided that with the clock ticking down it was all or nothing time. Rather than playing safe with a kick to touch, captain Susan Cagney attempted a cross field kick from within their own 22. Jenny Daly caught the ball, but was tackled and it was back to stalemate as neither side could break through the opposition defence before full time which meant that a three-penalty shootout would decide the winners.
Shona Doyle, who would later be named player of the tournament, Trish Moore and Sophie Bagnall all slotted over as did the three Portlaoise kickers to put the sudden death match into sudden death penalties. This time however the ball was moved another 15 metres back. Portlaoise scored but Barnhall heartbreakingly missed their last kick by only inches on a blustery day to give Portlaoise the win.
However, the Blue Babes left Portlaoise with their heads held high as they showed great heart and character in their first rugby matches ever to narrowly miss out on winning the tournament. A very successful day to start what will hopefully become a very successful season.

Barnhall Team: Jennie Coleman, Jenny Daly, Barbara Robinson, Barbara Mulvaney, Arleen McManus, Orla Fitzsimons, Trish Moore, Ceira Waters, Ann-Marie Flaherty, Sophie Bagnall, Lisa Cassidy, Shona Doyle, Suzy Cagney, Regina O'Reilly, Nicola Meehan.