Despite an indifferent pool display in the Women’s Sevens World Series in China the Irish women produced the goods in the knock out stages to claim their second trophy in just over a week.

This time they moved things up a notch to win the Plate Final beating a much fancied Netherlands 14 – 10 in Guangzhou. Ireland’s scores came from Alison Millar and Jeannette Feighery with Claire Keohane adding the decisive conversions.

It’s been another outstanding tournament for Millar who notched up six scores in total including a hat trick against Japan in the match that saw them sneak into the last eight after defeats to Canada (33 – 5) and Australia (12 – 7).

Qualifying 8th pitched the Irish Girls against the eventual champions New Zealand and despite Millar putting Ireland into an early lead the Girls in Green went down 31 – 5 as the Kiwi’s took control leaving Ireland with a rematch against Australia in the Plate Semi Final.

PLATE SEMI FINAL Tries from Feighery and, of course, Millar, together with the kicking of Keohane, saw Ireland edge this one 15 – 14 putting them into the Plate Final against Netherlands.

PLATE FINAL A first half score from Millar and a conversion from Keohane put Ireland in front and they went into the break 7 – 5 ahead with the Dutch replying through Selbeck. Feighery crossed the line early in the second half and Keohane pushed the lead out to 14 – 5 with the conversion.

Van Rossum replied for the Dutch with three minutes to go but Ireland held on to record a memorable 14 -10 win which see’s the Girls In Green enter the World Series in 10th place after banking an impressive 12 points in their first outing.

The next, and final, leg of the Women’s Sevens World Series takes place in Amsterdam on 17 -18 May. Natural progression after winning a Bowl and a Plate should see them secure the Cup! 😉

IRELAND WOMEN’S SEVENS SQUAD  Christine Arthurs, Ashleigh Baxter, Lynne Cantwell, Amy Davis, Jeannette Feighery, Ashling Hutchings, Niamh Kavanagh, Claire Keohane, Alison Miller, Claire Molloy, Jenny Murphy, Sophie Spence.