Women: Miller shines in Marbella.

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by

John McMurtry

Connacht’s Allison Miller shone in the Marbella sun, bagging five tries, in one of Ireland Women’s best performances in an International 7’s tournament to date.

Despite not winning a trophy this time round Ireland showed an dramatic improvement in their performance qualifying for the main Cup Semi Finals for the first time, finishing fourth overall in the 12 team Women’s European Grand Prix.

A strong first day laid the foundations for Ireland’s success with Ireland winning three out of their four matches. In fact the competition got of to the best of starts with a comprehensive 31 – 5 win against Scotland. Allison Miller opened the scoring and further tries came from  , , , and with Keohane adding two conversions in the six try romp.

Ireland went on to beat Portugal 19 – 0 in their second match with Keohane adding a try and two conversions to her personal tally alongside tries from and Molloy before a narrow 10 – 7 defeat to France with the only Irish scorer with a try and conversion.

Any disappointment was quickly forgotten with a 19 – 0 win against England with Ireland pleased to keep their rivals scoreless. Ireland’s tries came from Miller, Cantwell and Spence with Keohane adding a conversion in their final match of Day 1.

The Girls in Green kicked off Day 2 with a 24- 12 victory against Germany, Miller adding a late brace after tries from Davis and Molloy, Murphy converting two, to secure their spot in the Cup Semi Final after finishing second in their group.

The Semi Final saw Ireland face the undefeated Russia and the eventual champions went on to record a 27 – 5 win with Miller the only scorer for Ireland and the competition ended on a disappointing note with a 14 – 7 defeat to Spain in the 3rd place play off. Ireland’s scores came from a Cantwell try and a Baxter conversion.

Despite the play off defeats Relaid will be pleased to have taken some big scalps in this competition with wins against Portugal and England particularly pleasing. With the squad featuring 10 of the Grand Slam winning team congratulations must go to National Team coach Philip Doyle, backs coach Greg McWilliams and special mention to Strength and Conditioning Coach Ross Callaghan who laid an impressive foundation for 7’s coach Jon Skurr to build on.

The girls now travel to Moscow at the end of the month for the real test of the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

Ireland: Jenny Murphy, Claire Molloy, Niamh Briggs, , Claire Keohane, Lynne Cantwell, , , Amy Davis, , Laura O’Mahoney, Sophie Spence.

Ireland’s Ashleigh Baxter tackled as Lynne Cantwell look on. Photo credit Neil Kennedy.
Alison Miller makes a break for Ireland. Photo credit Revists 22.
Irish scrum lines up against Scotland: Photo credit I Irvine.
Alison Millar on the run against Scotland. Photo credit Revista 22.

One response to “Women: Miller shines in Marbella.”

  1. Ballymoney R.F.C – Womens Team on Facebook

    Having watched all the Ireland matches over the two days, there did not seem to be the same gusto from them on day two as was shown in their dogged determination against England in their final match on day one.

    I would say that the critters were exhausted and suffering from the heat and were perhaps a little deflated as they were most definitely outpaced and outplayed by a very well drilled Russian team.

    However, credit to all the girls, they stuck at it, and coming fourth overall was no mean feat especially in the strength zapping heat of the Marbella sun – over 30 C I’m lead to believe.

    Reply

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