After a week of hard analysing and work, the girls made a nervy start to the game as Leinster pinned them down in the 22m.  Ulster defended like demons and spurned many attacks by both the Leinster backs and forwards.  As each attack came the Ulster backs and back-row closed down the space and turned the ball over at crucial times.  The nerves seem to vanish and confidence grew as the Ulster team started to string the phases together and worked their way out of the half many times.  The girls in white were unlucky not to take the lead mid-way through the first half.  After a clearance kick and chase the ball was regained and quickly moved out the backs and another quick ruck ensued with the ball transferred quickly out to the wing sucking in Leinster’s outside backs.  Credit to the Leinster forwards as the ongoing ruck was slowed, which delayed the ball and Ulster lost the chance to score down an unmarked blindside. 

The game moved back between both 10m lines with both teams attacking but defences holding strong.  Leinster finally broke the deadlock just after 30mins with their out-half breaking the line and linking with the winger to score in the corner.  The try was unconverted, leaving the score-line 5-0.  Ulster seemed shell-shocked and last week’s demons seem to creep back in when Leinster scored again 3 minutes from half-time.  The Leinster forwards rumbled forward and after sucking in enough players their scrum-half released the back line.  Unfortunately the desperate Ulster defence couldn’t get across to stop the out-side backs who cruised in to made the score 12-0.

Half-time 12-0

The second half showed Ulster’s true determination and commitment as many of the players charged into the blue wall, however Leinster held strong.  A change of approach by Ulster saw them kick for territory, putting Leinster onto the back foot on many occasions and the chase from the Ulster players kept the girls in blue pinned into their own half.  Leinster had to wait until 70 minutes to add another score to the sheet when a well worked move by the forwards and backs saw their outside centre out-pace the cover defence and score in the corner.  It must be said that this was against the run of play and was a hard blow for the Ulster team after the pressure they had put on throughout the whole second half.  Again Ulster’s resilience showed through as they lifted their work-rate in defence and shut out any further Leinster attack right up to the final whistle.  Ulster showed exactly how far they have come over the season and due credit must go to the work they have put in.  They should now look to the Connacht game with a renewed sense of confidence and look to replicate their performance from this game.

Full-time Leinster17  Ulster 0

A huge thank you from the Ulster players and management must go to the supporters who came out in force to drive the girls forward in the game, it was appreciated by all the squad.  A thank you must also go to University of Ulster Jordanstown for the facilities, pitch and food.  We hope to see all the same faces when the Ulster team lines up against Connacht on 29th September at Ravenhill.

Ulster team

1. Rachel Reid - Cooke
2. Jess Limbert - Cooke
3. Janet Reid - Cooke
4. Lauren Day - Cooke
5. Kerri-Anne Craddock - Saracens
6. Cathy Maguire - Cooke
7. Imogen Porter - Cooke
8. Rachel Boyd - Cooke
9. Claire Connor - Cooke
10. Heather Thomlinson - Cooke
11. Jessica Elliot - Cooke
12. Jo O'Sullivan - Richnond
13. Suzanne Fleming - Cooke
14. Cathy Craig - Cooke
15. Amy Davies - Cooke
16. Paula Donnelly-Downs – Woodbridge Amazons
17. Emma Lowe - Cooke
18. Glenda Fleming - Cooke
19. Nikita Armstrong - Carrickfergus
20. Noreen Nethercott - Enniskillen
21. Laura Nicholl - Cooke
22. Joy Sparkes - Cooke

Leinster team

1.  Fiona Coghlan (Capt)
2. Yvonne Nolan
3.  Zofia Pherson
4.  Caroline Mahon
5.  Geri Healy
6.  Debbie Clarke
7.  Sinead Ryan
8.  Orla Brennan
9.  Liz Comerford
10. Shannon Houston
11. Julie Doyle
12. Grace Davitt
13. Lynne Cantwell
14. Gail Doyle
15. Orla Creedon
16. Shirley Corocan
17  Emer McNamanly
18. Melissa Slevin
19. Louise Austin
20. Jackie Shields
21. Sinead Delany