Mullingar Senior Women played New Ross at home last Sunday October 20th. It was Ciara Foxe who got the scoreboard rolling. While the Mullingar scrum wasn’t overly powerful they were quick to get the ball into space. Burzawa with a pick and go to Foxe on the open side, powered through the defence making the conversion easy for herself grounding the ball under the posts. 

As the game continued on, pressure from Mullingar forced errors for New Ross. A turnover and a kick from Foxe cleared the line. Norris followed up with a brilliant jackle and got the ball out to Aherne on the wing. She picked up the pace and put the home side twelve ahead.

Kicks from Foxe and strong drives forward from McCormack and Gallagher gained important yards for Mullingar. However, New Ross with momentum drove towards the Mullingar half. Mullingar infringements gave them the advantage but the Heifers stood strong and forced a knock on from the travelling side. 

Mullingar got their momentum back and a well spotted blindside move from Doonan and Treanor found Johnston out the back who drove forward into the opposition’s half. O’Brien to Foxe off the ruck saw her weave through the New Ross defence for her second of the day. She slotted the ball over the posts despite the wind. 

A stolen ball by New Ross looked dangerous but a crucial tackle from Walsh and Norris halted the attack. Unfortunately, soon after, a tackle from Foxe saw her see the line. Mullingar now down to fourteen. 

New Ross now on the try line were held off by a strong Mullingar defence. A crucial jackle allowed Hayden to clear the try line. Another Burzawa pick and go drew in the defence to create space for Wynne with Hayden’s conversion put Mullingar ahead by 26 at half time.

Early in the second half two line breaks looked like New Ross might push through for a try but Mullingar worked tirelessly to get back onside, forcing turnovers. 

Fresh legs from McGauran gave the Heifers a boost and Hayden from deep inside the Mullingar 22 broke the line and found O’Brien on her shoulder. She got around the defence and popped to Aherne who fought through the defence to get her second of the day. Hayden finished off the play with a conversion, widening the gap. 

However, Mullingar tired with only fourteen, allowed New Ross back into the game with their strong drives and a well timed kick over the top edged them further into Mullingar’s half, they were rewarded for their hard work left of the post, which they converted well. The score now 33-7 to the home team.  

A scrum penalty for Mullingar, caught the opposition off guard. Quick thinking Burzawa with a tap and go on the 15, drew in the defence,  a pass to Doonan nearly taken with the wind was fed across the pitch through Norris and Aherne to Wynne on the far wing to get another in the corner.  

New Ross were quick to respond with a pick and go off the scrum, which got them into Mullingar’s 22 where they repeatedly crashed up the defence to get their second try. The kicker confidently converted, leaving the score 38-14 heading into the final quarter.

Another threat from New Ross was handled well by O’Brien with a tactical kick. However a strong maul from the opposition switched play right back to the Mullingar try line. A 5m scrum got a quick try on the blindside, the angle bested the New Ross kicker. 

A well worked backs move off the scrum got the ball wide to Wynne who added another to the scoreboard. As both teams tired towards the end, the scrums became more frequent. A replication of the first half try, Burzawa with the pick from the scrum gave a pass to Wynne, who wanted one more before the final whistle. 

The final score ended 48-19 to the home team. After being so close the last few weeks the Heifers needed a win as they head further into the league. Great decision making from Burzawa and Treanor lead the team well. Strong carries from McCormack and Johnston were key on the day. The wind caused havoc in the lineouts but Byrne and Scanlon made the best of the horrendous weather conditions. The Senior Women head up to Clondalkin next weekend at 1pm for their next Leinster League fixture. 

Team 

Sinead Gallagher, Anna Scanlon, Makayla McCormack, Aoife Doonan, Abigail Johnston, Eve Byrne, Sophie Treanor, Susie Burzawa, Robyn O’Brien, Aine Hayden, Ciara Wynne, Alana Norris, Jodi Aherne, Johanna Walsh, Ciara Foxe, Ruby McGauran.