Ulster Women lost 20 – 40 in an entertaining encounter against Munster Women at Portadown Rugby Club on Sunday afternoon.

Munster raced into a 0 – 12 lead thanks to tries from Eimear Considine and Chloe Pearse but Ulster responded with uncovered tries from Vicky Irwin and Emma Jordan to reduce the deficit to 10 – 12. However, Munster crucially grabbed a third first half try through Roisin Ormond, converted by Briggs to extend their lead to 10 -19 as the teams turned round.

Pearse crossed for her try second shortly after the restart to be quickly followed by Nicole Cronin and Niamh Briggs, who converted all three, to put Munster well in control at 10 – 40,

Ulster continued to battle and got some reward through tries from Fiona Tuite and Claire McLaughlin to claim a try bonus point but the home side will rue some defensive lapses that left Munster well in control of the game.

Final score: Ulster Women 20 Munster Women 40

Ulster: Larissa Muldoon, Eliza Downey, Maeve Liston, Vicky Irwin, Emma Jordan, Jemma Jackson, Kathryn Dane, Ilse van Staden, Neve Jones, Shannon Heapes, Sorcha Mac Laimhin, Rebecca Lawlor, Beth Cregan, Claire McLaughlin, Lauren Maginnes. Replacements: Michelle Gormley-McLaughlin, Aishling O’Connell, Kathryn Hannah, Keelin Brady, Ella Durkin, Peita McAlister, Fiona Tuite, Brittany Hogan.

Munster: Laura O’Mahony, Eimear Considine, Enya Breen, Niamh Briggs, Laura Sheehan, Rachel Allen-Connolly, Nicole Cronin, Fiona Hayes, Kate Sheehan, Fiona Reidy, Roisin Ormond, Siobhan McCarthy, Edel Murphy, Ciara Griffin, Chloe Pearse. Replacements: Andrea Stock, Clodagh Cronin, Clodagh O’Halloran, Sarah Quin, Aine Staunton, Christine Coffey, Ciara Scanlan, Claire Keohane

Gallery below

Photo credit Bob Given Photography and John McMurtry.