The Ireland Women Sevens squad have secured silverware on their first ever foray to the Hong Kong Sevens event, winning the Bowl final against an International Selection 28-0.

The team features two of Ulster’s Grand Slam Champions, Ashleigh Baxter and Amy Davis.

However it was a disappointing opening for the girls in the pool stages recording two losses against South Africa (17 – 14) and France (17 – 9) undoubtedly due to seven of the squad being involved in the Grand Slam Match in Milan on Sunday. I know I’m still knackered after that weekend!

The team regrouped for the knock out stages and showed the formidable resistance they have displayed this season with a 33 – 5 win against Hong Kong in the 9th – 12th semifinals as the day, and Ireland, began to warm up.

The Bowl final, against an International Selection, was played in the high heat of the afternoon and Ireland got of to the best of starts with Jenny Murphy and Lynne Cantwell both crossing for ties converted by Claire Keohane to give Ireland a 14 – 0 lead by half-time.

The mean green try machine Alison Miller bagged a third try early in the second and Keohane capped a fine performance by scoring the forth and converting both to give Ireland a 28 – 0 win and silverware on their visit to Hong Kong.

Commenting afterwards, Ireland captain Jeannette Feighery said: “This is a good start for us. We have a benchmark now to measure ourselves against. We have a lot of work to do before China next week but we are pleased to win the Bowl final.”

The Ireland Women’s Sevens squad now travel to Guanghzou next week for the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series event.

IRELAND WOMEN’S SEVENS Squad : Christine Arthurs (Connacht), Ashleigh Baxter (Ulster), Lynne Cantwell (Exile), Amy Davis (Ulster), Jeannette Feighery (Munster), Ashling Hutchings (Munster), Niamh Kavanagh (Munster), Claire Keohane (Munster), Alison Miller (Connacht), Jenny Murphy (Leinster), Sophie Spence (Exile), Carol Staunton (Connacht)