As part of a double header, Deramore Park, was the ‘neutral’ venue for the Ulster Women’s Junior Shield Final, contested by Belfast Harlequins and Lisburn. The venue was chosen before Belfast Harlequins won their way through to the final.
The whistle had barely blown before Stacey Bryce touched down, under the posts and converted to put Quins up 7-0 in the 1st minute.
Lisburn pulled themselves together from this setback and, after pressure, Lauren Szymura scored out on the right to bring the score back to 7-5.
After followed a period when neither side could dominate and play fluctuated between the 22s.
The deadlock was broken on 31 minutes, when Emma McQuitty, scored from closed range, moving Quins out to 12-5.
Quins pressure yielded a try on 34 minutes, when Hattie Ravenscroft scampered in, converted by Stacey Bryce. In the last play of the 1st half Melissa Traynor converted her own try to give Quins a healthy 26-5 lead at the break.
In the 2nd half, Lisburn stoutly defended and had territory. Quins were content to absorb the pressure and break out from deep using their strike runners. Aoife McTaggart, 56 minutes, Eva Cafolla, 58 minutes, Bryce, 60 minutes and Jordanne Booth, 70 minutes all added tries to the Quins tally.
Quins were emphatic winners but the 46-5 score line in no way reflects the effort and spirit shown by Lisburn on the day.
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