Champions Leinster ease to Interpro win against Connacht

Leinster 38 Connacht 19

Leinster began the defence of their Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship title in impressive fashion as they led from start to finish in a comfortable 38-19 win against Connacht in Donnybrook.

Tania Rosser’s side never looked in danger of slipping up against the western province as they picked up a bonus-point win to go top of the table ahead of facing Munster next week.

That bonus-point was secured inside the opening half as tries for Ella Roberts, Katie Whelan, Aoife Dalton and Emma Tilly saw them race out to a 26-7 lead at the break.

Caoimhe Molloy added to their lead early in the second half, before player of the match Whelan capped off a brilliant induvial display with her side’s sixth try four minutes from time. Nikki Caughey added four conversions.

Connacht’s only score of the first half came from a Faith Oviawe try on the half-hour mark, and while the visitors never got back within reach of the defending champions, they were far improved in the second half, as the impressive Oviawe grabbed another try, with Laoise McGonagle also crossing the line.

It took the hosts just under ten minutes to hit the front, as Roberts finished off a brilliant counter-attacking move from deep.

After a deep Connacht kick, full-back Tilly ran the ball back at the visitors, before offloading and putting Dalton into space. Dalton drew in Connacht’s Meabh Deely, before passing wide to Roberts as the wing sprinted down the touchline to grab the opening try of the game, which was converted by Caughey for a 7-0 lead.

Connacht responded well and two crossfield kicks from out-half Nicole Fowley, first to Éabha Nic Dhonnacha, and then to Clara Barrett, threatened the Leinster defence, but the hosts did enough to