IRELAND WERE BEATEN 17-5 by South Africa, but still made it through to the quarter-finals of the World Rugby Women’s Sevens series qualifiers in UCD today.
Phumeza Gadu’s try in the dying moments of the first half had handed the visitors a 5-0 advantage at the break.
In the second half, Katie Fitzhenry’s try levelled the scores, before Fundiswa Plaatjie and Veroeshka Grain both crossed over to seal the South Africans’ victory
The result means Ireland will face China in the quarter-finals, with a likely repeat of the South Africa game should they make the semis.
Advertisement
That would mean these SFs: South Africa or Hong Kong v Ireland or China Japan or Wales v Netherlands or Brazil Winners to the World Series!
— Scrumqueens - Women’s Rugby (@ScrumQueens) August 22, 2015
Ireland had been been in imperious form in their opening two fixtures, as Lucy Mulhall and co racked up 114 points without reply in wins over Mexico and Hong Kong, before this afternoon’s final Pool C clash.
Amee-Leigh Crowe grounded Ireland’s first try of the day and the first of 10 in the 64- 0 win over Mexico. Fitzhenry followed that up with a second in quick succession before Crowe claimed a second grabbed a second. Tries from Jenny Murphy and Louise Galvin made it five first-half tries and the game was already beyond doubt when the teams turned around at 31 – 0.
Ireland don’t tend to take the foot off the pedal however, and Anthondy Eddy’s side doubled up with captain Lucy Mulhall, Audrey O’Flynn, Alison Miller and Hannah Tyrell crossed the whitewash after Murphy had grabbed her second of the game.
Hong Kong also proved to be meat and drink for Ireland women, with Miller clicking into form to run in four of the eight tries in a 50 – 0 win.
Ireland led by 33 at the break and Miller had already completed her hat-trick with Mulhall and Murphy also keeping the scoreboard ticking ever upward.
Either side of Miller’s fourth there was impressive individual play from Claire Molloy and Tyrell; showing their ability to make the most of tight and open spaces respectively.
Alison Miller turns on the gas. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
South Africa proved more more testing opposition for Ireland, even though Eddy’s side held the advantage ahead of that meeting after the ‘Boks defeated Hong Hong 33 – 5 and Mexico 38 – 0.
The 12 teams involved at this weekend’s tournament are vying for two remaining places in the 2015/16 World Rugby Sevens Series.
Ireland reach quarter-finals at Women's Sevens tournament in Dublin
Updated at 19.02
IRELAND WERE BEATEN 17-5 by South Africa, but still made it through to the quarter-finals of the World Rugby Women’s Sevens series qualifiers in UCD today.
Phumeza Gadu’s try in the dying moments of the first half had handed the visitors a 5-0 advantage at the break.
In the second half, Katie Fitzhenry’s try levelled the scores, before Fundiswa Plaatjie and Veroeshka Grain both crossed over to seal the South Africans’ victory
The result means Ireland will face China in the quarter-finals, with a likely repeat of the South Africa game should they make the semis.
Ireland had been been in imperious form in their opening two fixtures, as Lucy Mulhall and co racked up 114 points without reply in wins over Mexico and Hong Kong, before this afternoon’s final Pool C clash.
Amee-Leigh Crowe grounded Ireland’s first try of the day and the first of 10 in the 64- 0 win over Mexico. Fitzhenry followed that up with a second in quick succession before Crowe claimed a second grabbed a second. Tries from Jenny Murphy and Louise Galvin made it five first-half tries and the game was already beyond doubt when the teams turned around at 31 – 0.
Ireland don’t tend to take the foot off the pedal however, and Anthondy Eddy’s side doubled up with captain Lucy Mulhall, Audrey O’Flynn, Alison Miller and Hannah Tyrell crossed the whitewash after Murphy had grabbed her second of the game.
Hong Kong also proved to be meat and drink for Ireland women, with Miller clicking into form to run in four of the eight tries in a 50 – 0 win.
Ireland led by 33 at the break and Miller had already completed her hat-trick with Mulhall and Murphy also keeping the scoreboard ticking ever upward.
Either side of Miller’s fourth there was impressive individual play from Claire Molloy and Tyrell; showing their ability to make the most of tight and open spaces respectively.
South Africa proved more more testing opposition for Ireland, even though Eddy’s side held the advantage ahead of that meeting after the ‘Boks defeated Hong Hong 33 – 5 and Mexico 38 – 0.
The 12 teams involved at this weekend’s tournament are vying for two remaining places in the 2015/16 World Rugby Sevens Series.
Additional reporting by Paul Fennessy
Sean O’Brien double-jobbing as a tractor? Time for your comments of the week
Murphy has Schmidt’s trust as he reads Ireland’s game better than ever
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
7s heaven hometown heroes Hong Kong Ireland Ireland Women Mexico Rugby Sevens South Africa Women's Rugby