Scoil Chríost Rí 29 The High School (Dublin) 5
Leinster Schools Girls Rugby Junior Cup Semi Final
Scoil Chriost Ri have made more history as they have qualified for the Leinster Schools Rugby Junior Cup final.
It is a remarkable achievement as the side have reached the showpiece in Energia Park on March 20 in their first ever season to enter the competition.
After breezing through the first round in a frenzy of tries, the semi-final was a much more evenly matched and physical encounter.
Scoil Chríost Rí faced very tough opponents in The High School who also brought with them an army of noisy supporters.
It was a very attritional opening 15 minutes but Scoil Chriost Ri managed to go through phase after phase of play to eventually crash over the whitewash when Mila Mihajlovic took a quick tap penalty from five metres out to open the scoring.
Scoil Chríost Rí would score twice more before the end of the half after superb play from the SCR backline saw Saffron Adams and Molly Jane Dempsey dotting down for well taken tries.
Two of the three tries were also converted by Saffron Adams having to block out the jeering fans from The High School who did their best to get inside the heads of the Scoil Chriost Ri team.
At half time the scoreline was 19-0 but it was a closer game than was reflected with The High School having their fair share of possession and territory.
In the second half, the Scoil Chríost Rí backline linked up superbly after the Scoil Chríost Rí forwards started to get on top with intense tackling from Emma Finlay, Abbie Delaney and Mila Mihajlovic.
The Scoil Chriost Ri forwards punched holes with Sarah Keane, Kate Hosey and Tara Peavoy making great ground over and over again.
Ella Sherlock and Faye Scully were impeccable at the breakdown and guaranteed an excellent platform for the excellent Scoil Chriost Ri scrumhalf Molly Fitzpatrick.
Blathnaid Kehoe playing at outside centre came very close on a number of occasions slicing through the defence with only last ditch tackles stopping her short of the line.
Amarachi Obi and Grainne Ramsbottom also made massive inroads in attack skipping away from the High School defence repeatedly.
Amarachi eventually made her efforts count with a try in the right corner.
Saffron Adams was outstanding again playing at inside centre and such was her impact she attracted much of the negative attention from the High School crowd for her physicality in attack and defence.
It was another captain’s performance from Lily Brophy who was outstanding again, capitalising with a 50 metre run through the middle of the High School defence from a quick tap penalty.
It wasn’t all Scoil Chriost Ri, The High School had their moments too with the Aigboboh sisters playing at 6 and 7 putting in formidable performances.
Their ability to carry and rip the ball was outstanding and their efforts were eventually rewarded with a try in the last play of the game.
It was also a fantastic day for the Scoil Chriost Ri senior team who defeated Heywood CS to progress to the Leinster Senior 7s finals next Thursday in Mullingar.
This was quite a feat considering the squad of 12 players only had three club rugby players with many playing their first competitive rugby match in the qualifier blitz.
Heywood were very competitive but they couldn’t cope with Captain Rebecca Cahill who ran in five tries for a comprehensive win.
Scorers – Saffron Adams (1 Try, 2 cons), Mila Mihajlovic, Molly Jane Dempsey, Lily Brophy and Amarachi Obi (1 try each)
SCOIL CHRIOST RI: Annarose Scully, Amy Troy, Mila Mihajlovic (vice-captain), Emma Ging Gavigan, Saffron Adams, Kate Hosey, Grainne Ramsbottom, Roisín Devoy, Bláthnaid Kehoe, Vanesa Jannsen, Sarah Keane, Ella Sherlock, Rebecca Cahill, Abbie Delaney, Chawa Gonde Pule, Kate Dowling, Molly Fitzpatrick, Tara Peavoy, Rosa Conroy, Amarachi Obi, Lily Brophy (Captain), Emma Finlay, Aoileann NíComaraidhe, Molly Jane Dempsey, Alina Vicol, Layla Lawless, Kate Ramsbottom, Ruby Maunsel
MANAGEMENT: Alex Mihajlovic (Coach), Seán Smyth (Principal and Head Coach), Rebecca Cahill (Team Manager & PR), Ciara Conroy (Coach)
