Black Ferns too slick for Ireland
Women’s November Series International
Ireland Women 8
New Zealand Women 38
Daire Walsh
UCD Bowl
Ireland Women ended their November Series in disappointment at the UCD Bowl yesterday afternoon, as they suffered a comprehensive defeat at the hands of New Zealand.
Portia Woodman and Silica Winata contributed a combined tally of five tries for the impressive southern hemisphere outfit, and while head coach Tom Tierney acknowledged the Irish squad depth needs to be enhanced, he is glad that they will have a full nine months to prepare for next year’s World Cup campaign.
“We’re there in a number of positions, but again, there’s a few positions that we can fill, and get depth in. I suppose, that’s the major plus. The reality that we need to build a squad that’s going to be competitive, because that’s the standard,” Tierney remarked.
A Nora Stapleton penalty reduced Ireland’s deficit to 5-3 in time for the break and, after New Zealand pulled clear, Ireland got a consolation try courtesy of Niamh Kavanagh.
Scorers for Ireland Women: N Kavanagh try, N Stapleton pen.
Scorers for New Zealand Women: P Woodman 3 tries each, S Winata 2 tries, K Brazier try, K Cocksedge 3 cons, H Tubic con.
IRELAND WOMEN: N Briggs; C McLaughlin, N Fowley, S Naoupu, M Coyne; N Stapleton, L Muldoon; L Peat, C Moloney, A Egan; ML Reilly, O Fitzsimons; C Griffin, C Molloy, P Fitzpatrick.
Replacements: L Lyons for Griffin (38-45), M Healy for Muldoon (53), N Fryday for Fitzsimons, C Cooney for Griffin (both 58), Lyons for Moloney, F Hayes for Peat (both 63), N Kavanagh for Fowley (67), J Shiels for Stapleton, F Reidy for Egan (both 73).
NEW ZEALAND WOMEN: S Winata; H Hireme, P Woodman, C Alley, R Wickliffe; K Brazier, K Cocksedge; T Natua, F Faamausili, A Nelson; E Blackwell, C Gubb; C Smith, A Sisifa, C McMenamin.
Replacements: A Mata’u for Nelson, H Tubic for Alley (both 54), A Itunu for Natua, J Fereti for Gubb (both 62), J Vaughan for Wickliffe (67), S Woodman for Sisifa (73), S Talawadua for Faamausili, K Sue for Cocksedge (both 74).
Referee: S Cox (England).