NINE GAMES, NINE victories. UL Bohemians remain unbeaten at the top of the league after their ninth win of the season, their victims this time St Mary’s.
Home games, away matches, they all come alike to the Munster women who were the away team in the lunchtime game at Templeville Road but emerged with all the points on offer to stretch their lead at the top of the League to five points.
The evidence of the first 30 minutes would not have predicted such a comprehensive win for the away side as both UL Bohemians and St Mary’s pushed and pulled, defending and attacking with vim and vigour.
Máiréad Kelly, player of the match last week against Blackrock, showed her worth yet again for the Robins, making the breakthrough with a try on 31 minutes, after a slaloming solo run down the flanks. Edel Murphy, who doubles as the Kerry ladies’ goalkeeper, added the conversion.
Alison Miller in action for Ireland against Wales today. Source: Paul Walsh/INPHO
A penalty try was awarded to the visitors three minutes later, and Murphy duly slotted over the conversion. Kelly again raced away down the left wing to add her second inside eight minutes and give her team a 19-0 lead at half time.
Áine Staunton sealed their fifth try bonus point of the season, barely a minute into the second-half.
John Keane of UL Bohemians described the full-back’s score: “Last week she fielded a high ball at the start of the first half and Staunton ran in under the posts for a try on 41 minutes. This week the full-back repeated the magic, only this time she scored in the corner.”
Clare McDonald went over in the right corner, near the flag to make it 29-0 and Murphy kicked a tricky conversion to give the Robins a 31-0 lead.
St Mary’s fought back in the closing minutes and were rewarded for their efforts with a try from María Jose San Perega but the Limerick bird had flown.
“We were happy with the victory, it was convincing and sets us up nicely for next week but we are taking nothing for granted,” Keane added.
The race for the three other play-off positions tightened following Sunday’s round of games but Old Belvedere consolidated their second place with a 19-3 defeat of Cooke.
“Although we scored three tries, it was another tough game, very similar to last seek,” said Ruth McElroy. ”There were a lot of set pieces and while we dominated at the scrum, Cooke were more in control at the line outs.”
Cooke besieged the Old Belvedere 22 in the opening minutes but only came away with a penalty to show for their efforts. The home team got the opening try of the game afte r 20 minutes when Millicent Cromin was in the right place after good play from the Old Belvedere forwards, and she wiggled through a gap and touched down on the right side of the posts. The ever reliable boot of Jackie provided the conversion.
Cromin provided her side with their second try minutes before the half-time whistle sounded. The full-back again making use of her pace to score a second try but it was a bittersweet game for Cromin as she later was forced off with a hip problem.