Women 0 – Highfield 24

Cork-based Highfield trounced the Galwegians Women 24-nil in a four-try first half rout of last winter’s AIL Cup champions.

Highfield – denied All-Ireland silverware last season by the blue-belles in Dublin – responded with venom on Sunday at Glenina running in four tries in a 25minute first half period.

From the outset Galwegians were forced to defend as Highfield pelted players at stoic ‘Wegians tacklers. While the tackles held firm for the most part, Highfield freed the ball in such a fashion throughout to stretch even the pluckiest of scrambling defences.

It took 13 minutes for Highfield to breach the blue line but the next 25 was all Cork.

A refusal to identify threats either side of Highfield ball-carriers hurt Galwegians’ system where half-tackles couldn’t force the ball to ground. With that continuity Highfield picked up tracts of territory without having to kick away possession and exhaustion and frustration set in opposite.
While Highfield failed to trouble scorers in the second half Wegians did little to give them any cause for a hurry-up and the second spell finished up drawn nil-all.

Highfield’s continuity and freedom in confrontation made for free-flowing viewing and while Galwegians shone on occasion with glimpses of similar enterprise handling errors snuffed them out well short of the tryline.

Carol Staunton at eight distributed well and made several wayward passes look like they were on the button with superb handling, and in defence she was immense. It was a shame she had so many opportunities to prove it.

Prop shipmates Ruth O’Reilly and Beth Mallard were busy throughout carrying ball and Mallard’s presence at the breakdown seldom went unnoticed, captain Clare Raftery showed glimpses of class under immense pressure and Laura Feely was busy on the fringe.

Scrumhalf Sorcha Ni Chadhain was the standout however, be it kicking tactically from the base or cover defending as a fourth loose-forward.