Ulster 14-39 Leinster
Leinster produced the goods in the second half to beat Ulster and book a place in the final of the Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship against Munster.
The defending champions were ahead at the break at the Kingspan Stadium after tries from Robyn O’Connor and Ruth Campbell, but a lack of composure meant the hosts were still in the game and Brittany Hogan’s try had given them hope.
But a more ruthless Leinster came out in the second period and despite another try from the outstanding Hogan, Ulster were always playing catch-up, and tries from Leah Tarpey, Aoife Wafer, Emma Tilly, Eimear Corri and Kelly Burke saw the visitors safely through.
Munster, who beat Connacht 29-24 earlier in the day, await in next Saturday’s final, which takes place in Belfast.
While the opening half was largely scrappy and stop-start, the match was lit up by O'Connor's stunning try just three minutes in.
Making her full debut, the Wexford woman (below) looked well covered when she picked up the ball 40 metres out.
However, she beat her marker and weaved between two tacklers and outpaced a fourth before dotting down with Jemma Farrell adding the extras.
It wasn't one-way traffic by any means and Kathryn Dane’s fast delivery kept Leinster on the back foot.
After a spell of pressure Hogan powered her way over with Vicky Irwin’s kick levelling matters in the 22nd minute.
Aoife Dalton thought she had restored the Leinster lead soon after but her score was disallowed for a forward pass in the build-up.
The visitors were dominating possession but Ulster’s defence, led by Irwin, was on top and time and time again repelled Leinster attacks.
Murray Houston’s side looked like they would hold out but Corri’s break in midfield led to a five-metre scrum after Hogan ripped the ball of Linda Djougang on the line.
At the set-piece, Leinster removed loosehead Djougang from the scrum and she was on hand to bring Leinster to the line from where Campbell snuck over. Farrell’s conversion made it 14-7 at half-time.
Tania Rosser’s charges, with Ireland back row Wafer introduced for her seasonal debut, began the second half with more purpose and soon extended their lead.
They flung the ball wide with speed, Tilly came off her wing to combine with Ella Roberts, who danced inside her marker before popping to Tarpey (above) for a run-in.
The centre almost had another moments later but she lost the ball on the line.
But the Ulster 22 was under siege, and it didn’t take long before the line was breached again, this time Wafer got the touchdown from the back of a lineout maul in the 54th minute.
But it’s in this Ulster side’s nature not to give in without a fight and Hogan grabbed her second from close range after another spell of pressure close to the Leinster line. Again, Abby Moyles converted.
Then Tilly got her name on the scoresheet for Leinster, beating her opposite number in tight space on the wing after the ball quickly came her way off a scrum.
Leinster didn’t take their foot off the pedal and Djougang and Corri, player of the match, combined in a move that started in their own half with the second row racing away to score.
Replacement front row Burke finished off the scoring with a touchdown after a maul crashed over the line.
Leinster, who lost in round two to Munster, will return to Belfast to face Fiona Hayes' unbeaten side next weekend, while Ulster will meet Connacht in a rematch of the drawn game at the Kingspan.
Ulster scorers - Tries: Robyn O'Connor, Ruth Campbell, Leah Tarpey, Aoife Wafer, Emma Tilly, Eimear Corri, Kelly Burke
Cons: Jemma Farrell (2)
Leinster scorers - Tries: Brittany Hogan (2)
Cons: Abby Moyles (2)
Ulster: Lauren Farrell-McCabe; Lucy Thompson, Catherine Martin, Vicky Irwin, Lauren Patterson; Abby Moyles, Kathryn Dane (capt); Megan Brodie, India Daley, Sophie Barrett; Brenda Barr, Cara O'Kane; Moya Hill, Maebh Clenaghan, Brittany Hogan.
Replacements: Christy Hill, Bronach Cassidy, Ava Fannin, Ellen Patterson, Stacey Sloan, Rachael McIlroy, Megan Edwards, Lucinda Kinghan.
Leinster: Robyn O'Connor, Emma Tilly;, Aoife Dalton, Leah Tarpey, Ella Roberts; Jemma Farrell, Jade Gaffney; Linda Djougang, Sarah Delaney, Christy Haney; Ruth Campbell, Eimear Corri; Caoimhe Molloy, Molly Boyne, Hannah O'Connor (capt).
Replacements: Aoife Moore, Kelly Burke, Niamh O'Dowd, Aoife Wafer, Clodagh Dunne, Ailsa Hughes, Nikki Caughey, Anna Doyle.
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