UCC Womens Rugby begin their season

UCC Womens Rugby braved the conditions on Wednesday 21st October to face NUI Galway in the first round of the All Ireland Division 1 Colleges League, in Curraheen Road.

U.C.C. 10 N.U.I.G. 0

Conditions were not favouring either side as the gale force winds and sheeting rain made conditions unfavourable for expansive rugby.

UCC started their season well, with some strong phases of play. The pack were on the front foot with great support play from and good communication. Scrum half Natalie Flanagan fed the ball well to the oncoming charges, under the leadership of Captain Orlagh Ryan.

UCC dominated the first half and twenty minutes in were the first to put points on the board. Offloading and good angles were to the fore of the creation of the opening try. A succession of fast rucks lead to the Galway defence being sucked in and disorganised. UCC took full advantage of this with. None other than vice-captain Jane O Raheilly powered her away over the line, using the hand-off to push away defenders. This try was unconverted, giving a score line of 5-0 to the home team.

The second half began and was s very different half as Galway shook off the cobwebs and started to get on the front foot and challenge for the ball. UCC were pinned to their try line on a number of occasions but just absorbed the pressure. Well organised defence and good communication prevented Galway putting any points on the board. Imperative to UCC not conceding a score was the fact that the discipline was outstanding and there was a very low penalty count throughout the game.

The second try of the game came from yet another good passage of play which displayed good support play and communication, A long distance kick into the corner was well chased putting pressure on the Galway kicker, forcing her to kick for touch. This was blocked down and caught by winger Amy O’Callaghan who jinked her way closer to the line, offloading to her support players O’ Raheilly who was tackled just short of the line. UCC outhalf came in to pick the ball and shuffle her way over the line, bringing the score to 10-0 as this was also unconverted.

While this was a great first day out for the Leesiders, they will take from it and learn from it.
Improvements are required in the lineout while the scrum was an area of strength for UCC.
UCC will return to training on Tuesday next in preparation for their next fixture against University of Limerick the week of the 2nd November in Cork. Kick off is yet to be confirmed.

Team: 1-Orlagh Ryan (Captain) (57mins), 2-Sinead Cremin, 3-Yvonne Hickey, 4-Aine McKenna (40mins), 5-Eimear Galvin, 6-Sorcha Ni Riain, 7-Laura Kelly (76mins), 8-Jane O’Rahelly (65mins), 9-Natalie Flanagan, 10-Clare Rigney, 11- Louise Shanahan (55mins), 12-Kate Martin (60mins), 13- AnnMarie Moloney (73mins), 14-Amy’O Callghan, 15-Freda Casey. Replacements: 16-Sharon Dore (for Jane O Raheilly), Kelly McGuinness (for Orlagh Ryan), 18-Sarah Moloney (Aine McKenna), 19-Ali Askins (for Kate Martin), 20-Noreen Treacy (for Louise Shanahan), 21-Siobhan Kangataran (for Anne-Marie Moloney), 22-Aimee O’Brien (for Laura Kelly).

Training will continue every Tuesday and Thursday at 7pm at the Farm, on Curraheen Road. For more information on upcoming matches/training times please contact uccladiesrugby@hotmail.com.