Ulster 36-14 Connacht There were joyous scenes at Musgrave Park as Ulster won their first Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship match since 2012, beating Connacht 36-14 to finish third overall for this season.Try-scoring captain and player of the match Beth Cregan said her team were able to "shut down Connacht and show the type of running rugby that we play", as a superb six-try performance saw them avenge last week's five-point defeat.Leading this play-off tie from start to finish, Ulster built a 14-0 interval lead as Rachel McIlroy crossed early on and India Daley added a second try, showing exactly why she has been called up to train with the national squad.Ireland international Brittany Hogan was having a big influence up front as Murray Houston's charges outplayed a Connacht team that had started the campaign with a famous victory at home to Leinster last month.Despite Taryn Schutzler picking up a yellow card, Ella Durkan's intercept try just after the restart kept Ulster on course.
Lily Brady opened Connacht's account but Cregan responded with a 54th-minute bonus point effort.Niamh Marley's terrific individual try preceded a consolation score from Connacht replacement Orla Dixon, but first-year head coach Houston watched on with great pride when Aishling O'Connell crashed over in the final minute.Ulster's last Interpro triumph was away to Connacht back in December 2012 (18-5) when current coaches Grace Davitt and Amy Davis were on the team.
Their best result in recent seasons was a 12-all draw with Connacht from two years ago.Ulster piled on the early pressure with their back row particularly prominent as ball carriers.