Ulster Women’s Rugby: Ain’t no bridesmaids!

Ulster Women’s Rugby has been used to playing bridesmaid’s to Munster and Leinster over the last few seasons in a similar fashion to the men’s side, but this season, again like the men, they are looking to bring through even more youth in what is shaping up to be a very exciting blend of talented youngsters and seasoned players.

Thanks to the growth of the Women’s game in the province over the last few seasons Ulster were able to field two sides for controlled match sessions against Leinster Women at Banbridge Rugby Club last Sunday as both Provinces prepare for their opening fixtures in the Women’s Inter-pros.

It was particularly rewarding for Ulster as they were able to field players from ten clubs with Ards, Belfast Harlequins, Carrick, Cavan, City of Derry, Cooke, Enniskillen, Malone, Queens and (affiliate club) Sligo all well represented in the matches.

Both squads found it a worthwhile session with Ulster taking plenty of encouragement from the performance of their young players, though the loss of experienced second row Sarah Wilkinson who broke her collar-bone during the game, will be a big blow.  We at the Front Row Union wish Sarah a speedy recovery!

Didn’t get down to the games on Sunday but looking at the team lists it’s hard not to get excited as Ulster Women were able to field a backline of  Porter,  Fleming, Templeton,  Caughey, McLaughlin, Baxter, and  Downey with the likes of Maguire and Jordan pushing for inclusion and the Internationals, Muldoon and Davitt to return to the squad this week it really is looking like a back line that can do some damage.

As with the Ireland RWC Squad, there is even a chance of a few late bolters to be added to the final selection with Ards centre Dani Boyd featuring strongly in both matches.

The forwards are also looking a lot stronger this season with real competition in the front row from Lowe, Mallon and Feeley all putting pressure on Ballentine,  Chipperfield and Day at prop and with McVeigh available this season to back up Kennedy at hooker there is good strength in-depth at the coal face.

The loss of Wilkinson will impact on second row with no real back up for Mellon, Reynolds and Hanna in the boiler room though Knipe may be able to do a job if required. Though, in all honesty,  I’d rather see the fantastically gifted Knipe slugging it out in the back row with Quinn, McCutcheon, Armstrong, Wilson and Simpson.

Congratulations to the coaching team and club coaches for bringing through some real strength in-depth for this season though with Leinster and Munster still fielding the bulk of the Ireland squad and with Connacht pushing hard this year it is going to be a tough Inter-Provincial series with no easy matches.

Ulster kick off their campaign on Saturday 3rd September at Ravenhill against Leinster Women, KO 3:00pm in what should be an open, exciting game. They face Munster in Limerick the following weekend and finish off the series against Connacht at Ballymoney Rugby Club on Saturday 17th September KO 2:30.

We strongly recommend you get along to these games to show your support for our girls in what should be very, very, entertaining games.

Ulster Squads from Sunday.

Match 1:  Emma Lowe (Cooke), Susie McVeigh (Carrick), Catherine Mallon (Queens/Enniskillen), Grainne Crabtree (City of Derry), Laura Feeley (Sligo), Shirelle Wilson (Cooke), Julie Simpson (City of Derry), Claire Knipe (Belfast Harlequins), Noreen Nethercott (Enniskillen), Eimear Corrigan (Enniskillen), Lesleyann Stirling (Belfast Harlequins), Lesley Megarity (Belfast Harlequins), Emma Jordan (Malone), Jessica McCreery (Malone), Teah Maguire (Cooke), Gemma Lynch (City of Derry), Caroline O’Reilly (Cavan), Kylie Boyle (City of Derry), Jacqui O’Hallaron (Cavan), Kathleen Dawson (Cavan), Dani Boyd (Ards), Alanagh Chipperfield (Belfast Harlequins)

Match 2:  Sorcha Chipperfield (Belfast Harlequins), Stacey-lea Kennedy (City of Derry), Lauren Day (Cooke), Sarah Wilkinson (Cooke), Brigid Reynolds (Cavan), Hilary Quinn (Cavan), Gemma McCutcheon (Enniskillen), Nikita Armstrong (Cooke), Imogen Porter (Cooke), Rachel Fleming (City of Derry), Zoe Templeton (Belfast Harlequins), Nikki Caughey (Belfast Harlequins), Claire McLaughlin (Cooke), Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins), Eliza Downey (Cooke), Caroline Kelly (Cooke), Kathryn Hanna (Belfast Harlequins), Dani Boyd (Ards),

More like this:

• Women’s Inter Pros: Ulster 15 Connacht 12
• Women’s Inter Pro: Team for Connacht.
• Women’s Inter Pro: Munster 18 Ulster 12
• Women’s Inter Pros: Team for Munster