Audrey Fulham wins a lineout

Tallaght R.F.C. 24

Tries: Sarah Obafemi 3, Ann Meenagh
Con: Anne Kavanagh 2

Wanderers R.F.C. 28

Womens League Division 4
Tymon Park
02/10/16

Tallaght’s women’s team played their first home match of the season as they welcomed Wanderers to Tymon Park in Division 4 of the Women’s League. Wanderers started the stronger and put Tallaght under pressure. Tallaght couldn’t get out of their half and eventually Wanderers broke through the Tallaght defence to scored a try which they converted to lead 7-0. Tallaght suffered a blow when they lost out-half Ciara Meenagh with a hamstring strain, but they hit back with a great try from winger Sarah Obafemi, who was put into space in her own half and simply ran around the Wanderers defence to score under the posts. Anne Kavanagh converted and Tallaght were level. Wanderers hit back and they were well drilled and looked certain to score but a superb tackle from skipper Catherine Murphy saved the day. Then Tallaght showed good hands again to put Obafemi in space and once again she showed her pace to go the length of the pitch to score. This time Anne Kavanagh’s conversion kick came up just short, but it gave Tallaght a 12-7 lead at half-time.

Sarah Obafemi scores her hat-trick try

The game ebbed and flowed in the second half, but then Wanderers scored two tries in two minutes to turn the game on it’s head. First their powerful pack broke through after hammmering on the Tallaght defence repeatedly. Then from the restart they chased up a kick and retrieved the ball to score another try. Both were converted and now Wanderers led 21-12. Tallaght could have let their heads drop at that point but they rallied and it was that woman again, Sarah Obafemi, who scored another fantastic long range try, making it a hat-trick of tries for two weeks in a row. Kavanagh convertd and Tallaght were back within two points at 21-19. Wanderers hit back again though with a fine converted try to make it 28-19. However Tallaght found to the end and with the final play of the game, Ann Meenagh barged over the line for a well deserved try as she tackled like a demon all day. It made the final score 28-24 and though Tallaght were gutted to lose, they played some fine rugby and are developing nicely as a team.

Woman of the match: Ann Meenagh

TALLAGHT RFC

1. Catherine Murphy (Captain)
2. Marissa Crane
3. Leone Eugene
4. Ann Meenagh
5. Audrey Fulham
6. Shauna Power
7. Ciara Meenagh
8. Anne Kavanagh
9. Lorraine Cleary
10. Sarah Obafemi

Replacements:

16. Ciara McLaughlin
17. Tosin Omiyale
18. Aoife Davoren

Shauna Power waits for the scrum