Battling Scoil Chríost Rí are out-muscled by Ardscoil Trínóide in Leinster semi-final

Leinster Rugby Girls’ Senior Cup semi-final

Ardscoil Tríonóide, Athy 35 

Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise 5 

SCOIL Chríost Rí’s fate was effectively sealed inside the opening six minutes of the Leinster Rugby Girls’ Senior Cup semi-final on Wednesday. Played in Clane, Ardscoil Tríonóide ran in two converted tries before the Portlaoise school had gathered their thoughts.

It was a pity in ways because it took a lot of the sting out of the contest SCR certainly battled on gamely and, despite playing into a strong wind in the opening half, defended their lines gallantly.

Ardscoil’s pressure was relentless and one expected that sooner rather than later their onslaught would provide dividends. But the intensity pf the SCR defence forced into handling errors and misplaced passes, costing them scoring opportunities.

But that is to take away nothing from the Athy school’s display. They were slicker across the three-quarters, posing a threat anytime they did get the ball wide. And you felt that it would only be a matter of time before their intensity paid off, and it did in the final quarter as SCR legs tired.

The referee had barely blown for kick-off when Ardscoil out half, Catherine Murphy got her hands on the ball and scythed her way trough an unalert SCR defence. Vivienne Harris’ conversion left it 7-0 with just over a minute on the clock.

Minutes later, before Portlaoise had gotten over the shock of that early concession, they were hit for a second try. This time winger Ella Dunne sprinted up the left wing to round the cover and score under the posts. Again Harris added the conversion.

From here to the break it was a fairly even battle with Ardscoil having the majority of possession and SCR defending resolutely. But even with that stern resistance the Portlaoise school were very lucky on a couple of occasions.

From one tapped penalty Athy looked to be on the very of scoring only to knock on short of the line while their hooker Katelyn Bolger looked to have gone over in the corner only to be called back for a foot in touch.

Approaching their efforts got the rewards they probably deserved. Fron anther tapped penalty they whipped the ball across the line sending Sarah Dunne in for a try to give them a 19 point cushion.

And that advantage would surely have been increased only for Scoil Chríost Rí’s Lily Brophy chased back to put in a try saving tackle on Catherine Murphy.

The Portlaoise school tried to get a foothold in the contest on the restart but the physically larger Ardscoil players thwarted all their efforts.

Much of this period was played inside the SCR half and they never really managed to put a truly dangerous looking attack together. But they defiantly held out until the final quarter when the Athy school took complete control.

Once again using their superior size Ardscoil tapped a other penalty which ended with Harris going in under the posts and converting.

Minutes later SCR got some little reward for their efforts when winger Chawa Gondwepule latched onto a loose ball and from inside her own half she outran all the cover to score a try.

On the pip of full time Ardscoil Trínóide rounded off a great afternoon when Louise Murphy scored in the corner and Harris landed a magnificent conversion.

Ardscoil Trínóide will now face The High School in the final on a date to be confirmed.

ARDSCOIL TRIONOIDE: Vivienne Harris; Ella Dunne, Shiela Bradbury, Isabel Murphy, Sarah Dunne; Catherine Murphy, Louise Murphy; Niamh Maher, Katelyn Bolger, Alicja Morgan; Doireann Curtis, Ashling Wall, Roisin Coffey, Molly Lavelle, Anna Harrington.

Replacements: Eve Brophy, Mya McAleenan, Chloe Hyland, Anna Delahunt, Loretta Lawler, Shannon Owens.

SCOIL CHRÍOST RÍ: Amarachi Obi; Chawa Gondwepule, Freya Stanley, Aoibheann Conroy, Molly Jane Dempsey; Lily Brophy, Grainne Buggie; Emma Scully, Emma Finlay, Kate Ging; Grainne Ramsbottom, Rita Maguire; Adah Ramsbottom, Jessica Delaney, Mila Mihajlovic.

Replacements: Doireann Brennan, Áine Farmer, Maeve Kelly, Poppy Duff, Salma Valentine, Saffron Adams.

Kate Scully Blathnaid Kehoe.

Vanessa Jannsen, Shauna Lalor, Ríona Nugent, Ava Whelan.