Blackrock J1: 26
Balbriggan RFC: 33
Balbriggan Senior Women got their division 1 season off to a winning start in a blustery Stradbrook Rd in a hard-fought battle against an experienced home team.
Playing with the breeze in the first half. Balbriggan got off to a quick start when Molly Whately scored after some nice interplay in the wide channels.
The hosts hit back with two converted tries to leave it 14-5. Balbriggan didn’t panic and fought their way back into the game with an excellent try by Kate O Molloy, with Eve Conway converted the extras to bring it back to 14-12 in favour of the south Dublin team.
The momentum towards half time was with the visitors as the forwards started to get a foothold in the contact area, ably led by captain Sydney Sterio, Aoife Brennan, Jess Kelleher and Erin Mc Fadden who was making her D1 debut. This gave platform to half backs Louise Mc Cleery and Shannon Campbell to get on the front foot and Balbriggan was rewarded for the territorial dominance when Molly Whately scored her 2nd and then completed a first half hat trick, both converted by Eve Conway to give Balbriggan a 26-14 halftime lead.
Playing into a strong breeze in 2nd half, Balbriggans depth in the bench was key as the returning Abigail Dungan and Megan Gannon made huge carries to give much needed territory and both teams traded tries early on. Balbriggans 5th try of the day was scored by the always impressive Rachel Fanning powering over under the posts. Eve Conway, ably assisted with the kicking tee by mascot Sophie Cullen converted both tries to leave the score 21-33.
The defensive sets by Balbriggan summed up the never say die attitude and team spirit as they continually denied Blackrock. They managed to hold up the hosts twice on the line, with several stripped balls and a huge lineout steal by Ellen Coleman, which kept the hosts at bay. Rock managed to score late on for a deserved losing bonus point to leave the final score 26-33 to Balbriggan.
We thank Blackrock for hosting a hard-fought game and wish them best of luck for the rest of the season.
Special word for Erin Mc Fadden and Tara Hickey who made their senior division 1 debut. Also, thanks to veteran over 40s star Tilly Meade who stepped in as late replacement for the unlucky Lucy Loughrey Grant.
Balbriggan continue their season next Sunday with a double header as the 1st XV host Athy RFC, while the 2nd XV have their season opener v Clane.
Balbriggan RFC; Steph Campbell, Tara Hickey, Aoife Brennan, Andrea Murray, Antoinette Kemmy, Erin Mc Fadden, Sydney Sterio(c), Jess Kelleher, Louise Mc Cleery, Shannon Cambell, Kate O Molloy , Molly Whately, Rachel Fanning, Shayla Hollywood, Eve Conway, Ciara Spencer, Lucy Loughrey Grant, Ellen Coleman, Abigail Dungan, Megan Gannon, Sarah Mc Donald, Siobhan Verdon,
TR Tilly Meade, Aoife Geraghty