Munster Women v Barbarians Women

Roberts finishes classic score as women’s team open with Munster win

England’s Georgina Roberts finished off a classic Barbarians try as the club’s female history-makers opened their account with a 19-0 win over Munster.

Head coach Giselle Mather had assembled a vastly-experienced side with representatives from eight countries on show at Thomond Park. And despite the torrential rain in Limerick both sides were committed to entertain with the Barbarians awarded a first half penalty try before second half strikes from replacement wing Roberts (Darlington MP) and Ireland prop Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere).

Gloucester-Hartpury centre Megan Goddard added a conversion and picked up the Player of the Match award for her all-round excellence in midfield. France lock Lenaige Corson (Stade Rennais) and Wales flanker Rachel Taylor (Caernarfon) weren’t far behind her in a Barbarians pack that pinned Munster back for long spells.

The Baa-baas’ best first-half spell came 15 minutes in when Taylor bust through tackles only to be held up five metres out before her side spilled the ball having worked an opening on the left. They also tried to inject some magic with a penalty move saw the ball chipped over the Munster line without being able to recover it.

Corson battered her way to get over the line on the half-hour without being able to ground the ball but from another dominant Barbarians’ scrum that followed, Munster stood up and then tried to prevent Kelly Russell from playing the ball with referee Frank Murphy awarding a penalty try.

The opening stages of the second half were equally tight as Munster kicked for more territory until the Barbarians pulled away with two excellent scores. Egan finished off a sustained attacking spell with Rachel Taylor and Corson heavily involved with a drive into the left-hand corner and replacement hooker Egan eventually forcing her way over with Goddard converting. And their third try was a classic. A turnover won on their own 22 was moved quickly down the left where Nora Stapleton and Christelle LeDuff combined to send England centre Roberts charging away from 40 metres out.

MUNSTER (first-half): L O’Mahony; D Nic a Bhaird, A Staunton, C Arthurs, S Pua; V Power, N Cronin; F Hayes, E Murphy, G Bourke; N O’Connor, C Pearse; D O’Mahony, S Fleming, A Caplice.

MUNSTER (second-half): L McNamara; L Sheehan, N Kavanagh, R Allen, T Collopy; E Murphy, H McDermott; L Lyons, Z Grattage, F Reidy; E Foley, R Ormond; C O’Halloran, S McCarthy, C Griffin.

Referee: Mike Scanlon (IRFU).