Munster 29-22 Ulster
A hat-trick by winger Alana McInerney helped Munster on their way to a winning start in the Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship, but they were brought all the way by a plucky Ulster side in Cork.
Munster led from start to finish in their bonus-point win, but two tries in the final quarter allowed the visitors pick up two bonus-points of their own ahead of next week’s meeting with Connacht in Belfast.
McInerney’s first half hat-trick had put the hosts into a 22-5 lead at the break, with captain Chloe Pearse also crossing for Fiona Hayes’ side in the opening half, while Ulster’s only score in the first 40 minutes came through centre Tara O’Neill.
Ill-discipline had proven costly for Ulster in the first half, but they started the second half brightly, and were rewarded with a try for hooker India Daley, which briefly cut the deficit.
Munster settled, and a brilliant individual try from Chisom Ugwueru looked to have secured the result, but an impressive response from Murray Houston’s side saw Lucy Thompson and Brittany Hogan both grab tries, as they came away from Virgin Media Park with two match-points.
Munster were forced into a change before kick-off when Eimear Considine pulled out due to injury, replaced by Maggie Boylan at full-back, while Ulster were able to welcome back Kathryn Dane, who played her first competitive game since suffering a brain haemorrhage 20 months ago.
Ulster owned the majority of the ball early on, but that controlled start was upended on seven minutes when Dane’s pass was spilled by loosehead Gemma McCamley just outside the 22, and McInerney was first to pounce as she raced clear to score under the posts, giving Kate Flannery (below) a simple conversion to make it 7-0.
The hosts were buoyed by that early score, and were soon back on the attack when second row Claire Bennett got them front-foot ball, but when Boylan looked to send Ugwueru clear down the wing, her pass drifted forward.
Ulster struggled with discipline in the opening half, and when a penalty for not rolling away was followed by another ten metres for backchat it allowed Munster another opportunity to attack the 22.
On back-to-back occasions, the hosts went to the maul only for it to be dragged down, and that pattern sucked in the Ulster defence. Their next lineout close to the Ulster line came on 14 minutes, as they feigned to maul only for captain Pearse to break away and dive over for their second try.
Three minutes later they went further ahead, with McInerney at the end of a brilliant team move which saw Munster move from touchline to touchline, dragging the Ulster defence apart to score their third try of the game.
Flannery’s conversion from the touchline had the direction, but fell just short of the posts to leave her side comfortably ahead at 17-0 through the first quarter.
Ulster finally settled and came close to scoring when big carries from Brenda Barr and Fiona Tuite brought them close to the Munster line, only for Stephanie Nunan to win a brilliant jackal penalty on 22 minutes.
From that penalty, Flannery failed to find the safety of touch and Ulster ran the ball back at them, McCamley’s lovely offload to Hogan sending her breaking into the 22. The Ireland international was stopped just short of the line, but did well to pop off to O’Neill, with the centre diving over for her side’s opening try to make it 17-5.
On 33 minutes, Munster were in for their bonus-point score after another piercing run from Nunan saw them break the Ulster defensive line and the centre found McInerney once again, with the wing jogging in to complete her hat-trick.
Flannery had instigated the try with a turnover in midfield, but she was having a frustrating day off the tee, with her conversion striking the post as Munster led 22-5 at the break.
Ulster looked the more settled team early in the second half and made that good start count when hooker Daley finished off a powerful maul on 44 minutes.
Vicky Irwin’s conversion from wide on the right was perfect, and it left just ten points between the sides at 22-12.
Daley was almost in for another try four minutes later after yet another impressive maul but the hooker was stopped short of the line Ugwueru recovered to stop the Ulster forward short of the line.
Ulster lost second row Tuite to a leg injury and that instantly led to confusion at the lineout as Munster managed to exit their 22, while they extended their lead on 52 minutes through the impressive Ugwueru, who shrugged off three tacklers to run in and score from all of 40 metres out.
This time, Flannery’s conversion was between the posts as Munster moved out to a 29-12 lead.
The visitors refused to buckle and with 15 minutes left to play they gave themselves a lifeline when replacement Thompson burst onto a great pass out the back from Irwin to sidestep Abbie Salter-Townshend and get in for her side’s third try, and although Irwin’s conversion drifted just left and wise, it Ulster within 12 points of the hosts at 29-17.
Ulster continued to chase a fourth try, which would potentially have been enough for two bonus-points, and it arrived with four minutes left to play as Hogan barreled her way over to score despite the best efforts of Salter-Townshend and Ugwueru.
Munster scorers - Tries: Alana McInerney (3), Chloe Pearse, Chisom Ugwueru
Cons: Kate Flannery (2)
Ulster scorers - Tries: Tara O'Neill, India Daley, Lucy Thompson, Brittany Hogan
Cons: Vicky Irwin (1)
Munster: Maggie Boylan; Chisom Ugwueru, Stephanie Nunan, Enya Breen, Alana McInerney; Kate Flannery, Muirne Wall; Siobhan McCarthy, Beth Buttimer, Éilis Cahill; Clodagh O'Halloran, Claire Bennett; Brianna Heylmann, Jane Clohessy, Chloe Pearse (capt).
Replacements: Emma Dunican, Ciara O'Dwyer, Ciara McLoughlin,, Aoibhe O’ Flynn, Annakate Cournane, Abbie Salter-Townshend, Lucia Linn, Michelle O’Driscoll
Ulster: Lauren Farrell-McCabe; Sophie Meeke, Peita McAlister, Tara O'Neill, Lauren Patterson; Vicky Irwin, Kathryn Dane (capt); Gemma McCamley, India Daley, Sophie Barrett; Brenda Barr, Fiona Tuite; Moya Hill, Christy Hill, Brittany Hogan.
Replacements: Maebh Clenaghan, Bronach Cassidy, Megan Brodie, Cara O'Kane, Stacey Sloan, Rachael McIlroy, Paige Smith, Lucy Thompson, Ruby Starrett.
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