Women’s Interpros: Jenny Murphy on the double as Leinster see off Connacht and Munster hold Ulster scoreless in big win

Leinster 38 Connacht 10

Two-time Six Nations winner Jenny Murphy grabbed a brace of tries at Energia Park as Leinster defeated Connacht 38-10 in the opening round of the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship.

Despite being the dominant team in terms of possession, the eastern province struggled to break down a diligent Connacht defence in the early stages of the contest.

Leinster persisted with their challenge, however, and were finally rewarded with a breakthrough try on 33 minutes. After initiating an extended attacking move with a powerful break into enemy territory, international star Dannah O’Brien passed out wide for Ella Roberts to touch down in clinical fashion.

O’Brien added the bonuses on top of this five-pointer and did likewise in the wake of a superb solo try from Anna Doyle with three minutes of the first half remaining. Former Ireland out-half Nicole Fowley got Connacht up and running with a smoothly-struck penalty, but Leinster nevertheless brought a 14-3 cushion into the interval.

It got even better for Tania Rosser’s side on the resumption as replacement Elise O’Byrne-Whyte (with her first touch of the game) crossed the whitewash on 49 minutes. Leinster were starting to play with supreme confidence and a typically ruthless finish from Murphy towards the end of the third-quarter created further daylight between the teams.

Their defence was eventually breached in the 68th-minute as Orla Dixon dotted down off Fowley’s crossfield kick, but the hosts had the final say with late tries from debutant Katie Whelan and Murphy.