Mixed starts for Ireland Sevens teams in Vancouver

Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe centre scored two tries for Ireland.

THE IRELAND MEN’S and Women’s Sevens teams had contrasting results in their respective openers on the latest HSBC SVNS Series leg in Vancouver.

Following their historic title win in Perth in January, the women’s team opened their weekend with a 28-7 win over South Africa in Pool A, but then lost overnight to Brazil, 24-7.

Ireland were chasing the game early against a Brazil team that had the opening three tries of the game from Luizza Campos and Thalia Costa (2). Trailing 17-0, Beibhinn Parsons notched the try that opened Ireland’s account with Lucy Rock converting.

But they didn’t register a score again with Brazil’s fourth try arriving from Gabriela Lima.

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Against South Africa, Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe (two), Stacey Flood and Beibhinn Parsons all dotted down for Ireland, while Lucy Mulhall added the extras.

Murphy Crowe opened the scoring in the fourth minute, before Flood got in on the act with eight minutes on the clock. South Africa responded immediately through Nadine Roos, but Parsons and Murphy Crowe combined thereafter as Ireland ran out comfortable winners.

They face Brazil next overnight, before their final group game against New Zealand.

The Irish men’s team, meanwhile, lost 19-14 overnight to New Zealand, having previously fallen to a 14-7 defeat to Great Britain in Pool C in their opener.

Ireland trailed 14-0 at half-time with Joe Webber and Akuil Rokolisoa scoring the tries for New Zealand. A Niall Comerford try early in the second half got Ireland off the mark, Hugo Lennox adding the conversion.

New Zealand countered with their third try, courtesy of Tepaea Cook Savage, but the conversion was missed. Connor O’Sullivan bagged Ireland’s second try late on with Lennox converting, but time ran out on their hopes of making further inroads on New Zealand’s lead.

Against Great Britain, Ireland got off to the dream start as Jordan Conroy bagged a first-minute try and Zac Ward followed suit four minutes later. Billy Dardis converted both, but England dominated on the scoreboard thereafter with Robbie Ferguson, Morgan Williams and Will Homer all crossing. Tom Emery was backed up just Williams’ effort from the tee, but Homer’s 15th-minute try was ultimately decisive.

Ireland’s final group game is tonight against South Africa at 9.05pm.

Megan Burns (Blackrock College RFC)
• Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union RFC)
• Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC)
• Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC)
• Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC)
• Lucinda Kinghan (Railway Union RFC)
• Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC)
• Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC)
• Kate Farrell McCabe (Suttonians RFC)
• Lucy Mulhall (Wicklow RFC)(captain)
• Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC)
• Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC)
• Vikki Wall (Ireland Sevens)

Ireland Men’s Sevens Squad (HSBC SVNS Series – Vancouver Leg)

Niall Comerford (UCD RFC)
• Jordan Conroy (Buccaneers RFC)
• Sean Cribbin (Suttonians RFC)
• Billy Dardis (Terenure College RFC)
• Ed Kelly (Dublin University FC)
• Terry Kennedy (St Mary’s College RFC)
• Hugo Lennox (Skerries RFC)
• Matthew McDonald (Ireland Sevens)
• Harry McNulty (UCD RFC)(captain)
• Gavin Mullin (UCD RFC)
• Chay Mullins (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht/IQ Rugby)
• Connor O’Sullivan (Lansdowne FC)
• Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC)

Ireland’s Fixtures

Saturday, February 24

Ireland Women v Brazil Women, 1.30am Irish time
• Ireland Men v New Zealand Men, 3.18am Irish time
• Ireland Women v New Zealand Women, 7.21pm Irish time
• Ireland Men v South Africa Men, 9.05pm Irish time.