A hat-trick by Amy Larn was the crowning glory on a comprehensive Leinster win over Ulster in the Bank of Ireland U18 Girls Interprovincial Series at Newforge on Saturday afternoon.
It was all-out attack from coach Michael Bolger’s brigade in amassing ten tries, four from the forwards and six from the backs.
Athy wing Larn was quick to stamp her speed all over the game by opening up with her first try in the second minute.
A feature of the game was the accurate goal-kicking of Abby Moyles, the Navan out-half landing seven of eight attempts at conversions.
Hooker Ava Kavanagh’s throwing was on the money and caller Amy O’Mahony was able to manipulate a dominant lineout to provide a vital platform for the visitors to cut Ulster to pieces.
Full-back Robyn O’Connor, second row Koren Dunne, Larn, flanker Prudence Isaac and Larn, for her third, all troubled the scoreboard as Leinster built up a 40-point lead by the break.
The ability of Larn and Dunne, doubling up, to strike either side of the interval should have been the trigger for maintaining their momentum.
However, the excellence of Ulster number eight Sadhbh McGrath and tight-prop Sophie Barrett drove the home side to threaten a breakthrough.
There was no give in the Leinster girls as flanker Orla Wafers led a frontfoot defence until they re-established position in the right area of the field.
There was method enough in how they moved forward for replacement Emma Brogan, centre Eva Sterritt and another replacement Jess Griffey to add tries in the final quarter as Eve Prendergast and Abaigeal Connon took over as the half-backs.
“In terms of performance, you couldn’t have asked more from the girls. The scoreline didn’t tell the full story,” said Team Manager Samantha Wafer.
“Ulster were physical. They did put it up to us. We had to fight for everything. There will be sore bodies for a few days.”
It sets up an intriguing encounter at Energia Park next Sunday (KO3pm) when Leinster host Connacht, who put seven tries past Munster (39-17) at the weekend.
“Looking forward, we have things to work on for Connacht. There was a period in the second-half when the girls lost focus for a while. We can’t allow that to happen next week.”
SCORERS.
LEINSTER – A Larn 3 tries; K Dunne 2 tries; R O’Connor, P Isaac, E Serritt, J Griffey, E Brogan try each; A Moyles 7 cons; A Connon con.
ULSTER.
- Katie Gilmour (Cooke RFC)
- Scarlett Keys (Enniskillen RFC)
- Emma McArdle (City of Armagh RFC)
- Tara O’Neill (Cooke RFC)
- Mia Ferguson (Malone RFC)
- Leah Irwin (Enniskillen RFC)
- Megan Creighton (Malone RFC)
- Sarah Roberts (Donaghadee RFC)
- Maebh Clenaghan (City of Derry RFC)
- Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen RFC)
- Cara O’Kane (VCCooke RFC)
- Jessica Kelly (Virginia RFC)
- Kaitlyn Graham (City of Armagh RFC)
- Ruby Starrett (Larne RFC)
- Sadhbh McGrath (City of Derry RFC, Capt)
Replacements:
- Katie-Anne McCallion (Malone RFC)
- Maia Finane (Virgina RFC)
- Cara McManus (Malone RFC)
- Lucy Calvin (Royal School Armagh)
- Olivia Black (Enniskillen RFC)
- Ellie-Louise McCall (City of Armagh RFC)
- Jessica Wilkinson (Ballymena RFC)
- Elle Corkey (City of Armagh RFC)
LEINSTER.
15. Robyn O’Connor (Wexford Wanderers RFC)
14. Sophie Woulfe (Dundalk RFC)
13. Eva Sterritt (Greystones RFC)
12. Cara Martin (Navan RFC)
11. Amy Larn (Athy RFC) / Emma Brogan (Navan RFC) 49 mins
10. Abby Moyles (Navan RFC) / Abaigeal Connon (Tullamore RFC) 56 mins
9. Jade Gaffney (Navan RFC) / Eve Prendergast (New Ross RFC) 56 mins
1. Hannah Wilson (Old Belvedere RFC) / Lauren Fitzpatrick (Navan RFC) 60 mins
2. Ava Kavanagh (Arklow RFC) / Kellie Burke (Mullingar RFC) 49 mins
3. Isobel Clerk (Mullingar RFC) / Jess Griffey (Wicklow RFC) 60 mins
4. Koren Dunne (Portlaoise RFC) / Anna Mai O’Brien (Mullingar RFC) 56 mins
5. Jane Neill (Arklow RFC)
6. Prudence Isaac (Arklow RFC) / Orla McDonald (Portarlington RFC) 56 mins
7. Orla Wafer (Enniscorthy RFC)
8. Amy O’Mahony (Greystones RFC).