Plate win is due to a second-half revival by Sligo
Connacht Women’s Rugby Invitational Plate Final Sligo RFC
Westport RFC 40 17
A
SUPERB second-half performance – a display that produced six tries – saw Sligo RFC’s senior women’s team power to a 40-17 win over Westport in last Sunday’s Connacht Women’s Invitational Plate final at Heffernan Park.
Sligo, whose head coach is Jamie Bowes, overturned a 17-10 interval deficit by scoring 30 points during a second-half where they kept their opponents scoreless.
Played on the Ballina venue’s 5G astroturf pitch, this outcome is another progressive step for women’s rugby at Sligo RFC – last season the club won the Connacht Women’s Invitational Shield.
Aisling Feely’s try cancelled out Wesport’s opening score – an unconverted try – but then Westport took over with two tries and one conversion to establish a 12-point lead, 17-5. Sligo, rattled by this dominant phase, responded with a fine try from Emma Cox, who touched down after gliding run.
There was still a lot for Sligo to do, given that they were seven points down, and they put in a serious
PRESENTATION: Sligo captain Emma Cullen is presented with the Invitational Plate by Liz Brady, head of Women’s Rugby in Connacht.
second-half showing.
Team captain Emma Cullen got the pack going and the backs were led by outhalf Sophie Kinghan, who impressed.
A try apiece from Cullen and Kinghan stabilised Sligo and they had
regained the lead, 20-17.
A second try by Emma Cullen continued the trend and Sligo were flying now, rucking with purpose and smoothly moving the ball wide. Further tries from Cliodhna O’Sullivan, Victoria Lee and
SURGE: Cliodhna O’Sullivan carries the ball for Sligo, with Sophie Kinghan in support.
Sligo RFC senior women’s team (v Westport RFC): Aisling Feely (1 try), Rachel Dolan, Emma Cullen (c) (2 tries), Joanne Williams, Victoria Lee (1 try), Cliodhna O’Sullivan (1 try), Hannah Walsh-Kerins, Emma Cox (1 try), Sophie Kinghan (1 try), Jessica McGuinness, Rachel McPartlin, Sarah Woodmartin, Michaela Watts, Jenny Cregg, Rachel Enright (1 try)
Rachel Enright – a newcomer to the team – reflected Sligo’s superiority. Sligo scored eight tries in total. Afterwards the Plate was presented to Emma Cullen by Liz Brady, Head of Women’s Rugby in Connacht. Meanwhile, Sligo return to the
Connacht Women’s League this Sunday, December 4, when they host Galway club Corrib RFC.
This is the third game of this season’s competition for Sligo, who have already hammered Westport (58-5) and beaten Tuam-Oughterard (20-0).
DELIGHTED: Joanne Williams, celebrates at the final whistle last Sunday.
Sunday’s game at Hamilton Park, Strandhill, has a 1pm start. Elsewhere, Sligo defeated Ballina, 41-12, in a Connacht Boys U-15 League Division One game that took place at Hamilton Park last Sunday. The winners bagged seven tries. This was Sligo’s fourth win from five games – next up is a fixture away to Galway Bay on Sunday week, December 11.