Katie Fitzhenry’s promising squad made history in Edinburgh as the first Ireland Under-18 Women’s team to play a full international match. They took on Wales over 70 minutes on the final day of the U-18 Women’s Six Nations Festival.
UNDER-18 WOMEN’S SIX NATIONS FESTIVAL: Wednesday, April 13
IRELAND UNDER-18s 10 WALES UNDER-18s 17, DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh
Scorers: Ireland U-18s: Tries: Kate Flannery, Hannah Wilson
Wales U-18s: Tries: Nel Metcalfe, Molly Wakely, Lowri Elias; Con: Lowri Elias
HT: Ireland U-18s 5 Wales U-18s 5
Wales got the game underway and within two minutes had their first score. But Ireland did not let this phase them as they put up an incredibly strong defence and finally in the 17th minute Kate Flannery crashed over for their first try of the game.
An incredible period of both attack and defence followed by this young Irish side which saw them run into the sheds at half-time all square with five points apiece.
Ireland were very strong in their set-piece in this first half. The front-row trio of Wilson, Delaney and Clerk dominated their Welsh counterparts at the scrum. Defensively Fitzhenry’s side were very solid, not letting this strong Welsh break through those centre channels.
The only time they were beaten was on the wing when a clean passage of passing went straight out wide off a Wales line-out leading to their first try.
It was an Ireland kick-off to start us into the second-half. But it was Wales once again who were first to strike as hooker Molly Wakely peeled off the maul to come crashing down over the whitewash.
The Welsh soon found the try line once more after a clean break on the right wing saw Lowri Elias running under the uprights. After a quick conversion Wales now lead 17-5.
After a period of being camped within the Welsh half Ireland were eventually rewarded with a brilliant try from Hannah Wilson. With 50 minutes on the clock the score now stood at 17-10 to Wales.
Unfortunately it was not to be this time for Fitzhenry’s side as they were beaten 17-10. It was an incredible performance put on by this young Irish side.
Though unlucky in giving away those two tries so early on in the second half, they dominated in both territory and possession. They fought for every ball right up to the final whistle.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, head coach Fitzhenry said afterwards: “I think our handling errors didn’t really help. By the end of the game we were up to around 19 excluding penalties, so that was something we needed to work on.
“Pitch conditions were also different and made the ball that bit greasier. Unfortunately it just wasn’t the girls day today.”
The former Ireland 15s and Sevens international added: “They adapted really well to the international set-up and having played Saturday already there was definitely less pressure having already experienced pulling on that green jersey for the first time.
“There were still nerves there but I think they stepped up really well and gave everything for that jersey. I am super proud of these girls. I know how hard they’ve all worked these last few weeks and months.
“I feel incredibly privileged to have been able to give them this opportunity and win or lose I was always going to be proud them because they are such a great bunch.
“They are such great rugby players and they will definitely be superstars in a couple of years time.”
IRELAND U-18: Robyn O’Connor (Wexford Wanderers RFC/Leinster); Clara Barrett (Ballina RFC/Connacht), Katie Corrigan (Tullow RFC/Leinster), Éabha Nic Dhonnacha (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Ellen Boylan (Carrick-on-Suir RFC/Munster); Kate Flannery (Fethard RFC/Munster), Rebecca Rodgers (Ballina-Killaloe RFC/Munster); Hannah Wilson (Cill Dara RFC/Leinster), Sarah Delaney (Cill Dara RFC/Leinster), Isobel Clerk (Mullingar RFC/Leinster), Koren Dunne (Portlaoise RFC/Leinster), Jorja Battishill (Malone RFC/Ulster), Karly Tierney (Tuam/Oughterard RFC/Connacht), Amy O’Mahony (Greystones RFC/Leinster), Jane Neill (Arklow RFC/Leinster).
Replacements: Maebh Clenaghan (Letterkenny RFC/Ulster), Sadhbh McGrath (City of Derry RFC/Ulster), Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen RFC/Ulster), Sarah McCormick (Ballina RFC/Connacht), Orla Wafer (Enniscorthy RFC/Leinster), Beth Buttimer (Fethard RFC/Munster), Jade Gaffney (Navan RFC/Leinster), Eva Sterrit (Greystones RFC/Leinster), Molly Boote (Connemara RFC/Connacht).
WALES U-18: Mollie Wilkinson (Exiles); Grace Bellamy (Cardiff), Gabby Healan (Cardiff), Jenna De Vera (Scarlets) (co-capt), Nel Metcalfe (RGC); Mya Dixon (Cardiff), Molly Reardon (Cardiff); Chelsea Chesters (Scarlets), Molly Wakely (Dragons), Lowri Pritchard (Scarlets), Erin Jones (RGC), Catrin Stewart (RGC), Jess Rogers (Ospreys), Lucy Isaac (Dragons), Gwennan Hopkins (Cardiff) (co-capt).
Replacements: Dali Hopkins (Ospreys), Georgia Morgan (Cardiff), Maisie Davies (Scarlets), Milly Summer (Scarlets), Fern Cumine (Cardiff), Katy Hudd (Cardiff), Sian Jones (RGC), Lowri Elias (Scarlets), Molly Powell (Dragons), Rachel Thomas-Evans (Cardiff).
Source: Irish Rugby