Clondalkin 22 Naas 27

Naas RFC women's team paid their first ever visit to Clondalkin's fantastic new grounds in this, their second Leinster Division 2 match, and came away with all 5 points on offer. The Naas women staged a stunning second half comeback to overcome a 17 point shortfall, eventually winning the match 27 points to 22.

Clondalkin started the game confidently, playing with great tempo and capitalising on Naas indiscipline to score their first try after 10 minutes. Poor tackling by Naas led to a second try for the Clondalkin women 20 minutes later giving the Clonettes a 10 nil lead at half time. The strong-running Clondalkin centre started the second half where she had finished the first by bursting through the ragged Naas defence to extend the Clondalkin lead to 17 points with a score under the posts.

18-year old Aoife Furlong, a recent graduate of the Naas U18 Girls' team, then started the fight back for Naas with a superb burst down the left wing to score in the corner, after a powerful run by Molly Cullen. Four minutes later, a yellow card for Clondalkin allowed Mary Hulgraine to storm over for a second Naas try. With the score now at 10 17, Naas managed to play disciplined rugby, with out half Sheena Hubbard exerting her influence on the game to win some useful field position. A period of sustained pressure and continuity led to a short-range try for Naas talisman Aisling Mahon, with a difficult kick from the touchline successfully converted by Mary Hulgraine. From the restart, a superb kick into space by Sheena Hubbard, and a lightning-fast chase by winger Jamie Garland led to a fourth try for Naas with eleven minutes left to play.

Naas then raised their game well to manage the next few minutes, playing all their rugby in the Clondalkin 22. The pressure eventually told with a Clondalkin player caught offside on the 22 line. Hulgraine then stepped up to slot over the penalty, effectively putting the game beyond the reach of the Clondlakin women with two minutes to play.

Almost inevitably, the strong Clondalkin backs fought their way back towards the Naas line and scored a fine team try in the corner. The subsequent conversion was the last play of the game, but it fell short, leaving the Naas women deserved winners with a score line of 22 27.