A big away win against an overwhelmed Dolphin side leaves Ennis/Kilrush in fourth place after two wins, a draw and a loss in the senior women’s league.
By Dearbhla Perry
Senior Women’s League:
Ennis/Kilrush RFC 62
Dolphin RFC 17
Wing Emer Moynihan touched down first after the ball was worked across the field from a lineout. Shortly after, Dolphin scored levelled the score but the parity didn’t last long when flanker Caoilfhionn Morrissey benefitted from a well-worked scrum move to score a try, which was converted by captain Micaela Glynn.
A converted try from centre Ailish Dunne followed before Dolphin responded again but Ennis-Kilrush substitute Grainne Burke made sure the gap remained intact with a try after a strong run from the middle of the field, converted by Glynn. Another try each for the sides left the half-time score at 31-17 in favour of Ennis/Kilrush.
The second half was an even more one-sided affair with tries from Dunne, Orna Moynihan, hooker Meadh O’Driscoll, Emer Moynihan and finally Burke with a lovely kick-and-chase try to leave the score at 62-17. The senior women’s team have an upcoming home game against leaders Tralee on December 17.
Senior Men:
Ennis RFC 23
Scariff RFC 10
Ennis continued their winning streak with a 23-10 against local rivals Scariff.
Ennis were disciplined for some high tackles and not rolling away at the rucks, while Cian Guilfoyle was penalized in the first half for running into a defensive tackle with a leading elbow.
Despite a number early penalties against Ennis for ill-discipline, the senior men took an early stranglehold in the game thanks to their dominant scrum.
Their first try came from a well-constructed line-out drive which allowed Joe Connaughton to make a great break to score under the post. Dylan Kenny added a conversion and soon after, kicked a penalty, putting Ennis in the lead with 10-0.
Scariff finished the first half in the ascendency however and were awarded a penalty try to leave the score 10-7 at halftime.
In the second half, Kenny kicked two more penalties to extend the lead before Jack Scahill made an excellent line-break from the halfway line to link up with Cillian Mullins, who beat three defenders and scored under the post.
With a final score of 23-10, the senior men’s team have won five out of five matches in Division 3 and are very familiar with the top spot on the table.
Up next for Ennis is Dingle for the Martin O’Sullivan cup second round.
U18 Girl’s Munster League:
Ennis RFC 53
Mallow/Mitchelstown/Kanturk RFC 19
Ennis’ U18 girls recorded a big win at home against the Cork amalgamation, winning 53-19.
Ennis were first to score thanks to super inter-play between Eileen Keane and her sister Emma who touched down. The visitors scored five minutes later from a quick tap penalty to leave Ennis trailing 5-7.
From the re-start, Ennis chased hard and from some quick rucks by the forwards, Ennis’ second row Alana Foudy powered through the defence to touch down under the posts, converted by Emma Keane.
Ennis’ next score came from an attacking scrum just outside the opposition. Number 8, Emily Kelly, picked at the base and with a great off-load by winger Amy Butler, allowed the supporting scrum-half Niamh McManus to score in the corner. With another score from the opposition and only eight minutes until half-time, Foudy touched down for her second try of the game, leaving the score at 24 – 14 at half-time.
Ennis introduced their subs bench in the second half and it didn’t slow them down, if not the opposite. A shortened lineout won by Maggie Murphy led to a try by Emma Keane, who beat five defenders to touch down under the posts and converted her own try.
Ennis scored again eight minutes later from great ball play by all the Ennis backs. Lyndsay Clake received the ball on the halfway line and scored under the posts, which was converted by Emma Keane. Ennis’ next two tries where scored by winger Nell Walsh, followed by the hard-working number 7, Maggie Murphy. The visitors had the last score of the game when their Number 13 touched down in the corner. However, this did not affect Ennis’ victory of 53 – 19.
Ennis: Ciara Reidy, Aine Morrisey, Caoilinn Cahill, Ava Walsh, Alana Foudy, Aisling Heapes, Maggie Murphy, Emily Kelly, Niamh McManus, Emma Keane (Joint Captain), Amy Butler, Eileen Keane, Amber Keane Thompson, Ella Courtney, Sadhbh Faughey, Sally Kelly, Annie Lynch, Kayla Considine, Nell Walsh, Saoirse Coleman, Eadaoin McMahon, Ellis O’Flaherty, and Lyndsay Clarke
Next up for Ennis’ U18 girls is an away game on Saturday the 16th of December against Carrick-on-Suir.
U8 Blitz:
Ennis fielded two teams while Newcastle West RFC and Thomond RFC fielded a team each during a U8 blitz in Newcastle West.
Each Ennis team played Newcastle West and Thomond, finishing with an Ennis Red against Ennis Black game.
This was a great morning of rugby and the U8 team will have many more opportunities to improve and develop their skills in their next blitz after Christmas.
