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ON behalf of UL Ladies Rugby I would like to welcome our new head coach, Mike\u00a0McCarthy and also wish Gillian Bourke, our departing coach, the best of luck in her future\u00a0endeavors and many thanks for her years of hard work and dedication with the club.\u00a0Gill will be taking to the field this weekend, representing the Irish Women\u2019s Rugby\u00a0team who play England in Twickenham as part of their Six Nations campaign. The\u00a0introduction of a new coach for ULLR accurately reflects the transition phase that the club is\u00a0presently experiencing. Over ten of our first-team players graduated at the end of last season,\u00a0leaving a large gap to be filled.<\/p>\n
Successful recruitment early in semester one saw many new girls joining the club and\u00a0getting their first taste of ladies\u2019 rugby. The first semester is usually quieter than the spring\u00a0semester for ULLR. We participated in a ten-a-side blitz at Cork Institute of Technology and\u00a0played three league games.<\/p>\n
The blitz in CIT was a great opportunity for our new players to get a taste of the\u00a0action. Even with large squad rotation UL finished top of the table on the day, only losing one\u00a0game. The early league games proved testing for our young squad but there has been huge\u00a0improvements made over the course of the semester.<\/p>\n
First up was an away game to Carlow IT. It was a close game, evenly contested by\u00a0both teams. Unfortunately an intercept try for the home side, late in the second half, proved to\u00a0be the difference between the two sides.<\/p>\n
Next up was NUI Galway at home, a huge game for ULLR considering the last\u00a0encounter between the two sides was last year\u2019s scintillating league final, where UL justedged out the victory. Great attacking play and determination from the home team saw UL\u00a0defend their unbeaten home record.<\/p>\n
The last outing of the semester was away to UCC, a team also experiencing a\u00a0transition phase. A wobbly first half performance from UL meant the score was too close for\u00a0comfort at half-time. However a solid second-half performance allowed UL to pull away and\u00a0clinch an important bonus point, setting the stage for the second semester.<\/p>\n
The second semester is usually seen as the business end of the season, when the\u00a0league final and inter-varsities are contested. ULLR will be defending both titles and are back\u00a0training as hard as ever ready for the tough season ahead.<\/p>\n
The first game of the semester was home to Carlow IT. It was a tough encounter for\u00a0both teams but UL prevailed, finishing with a 22-14 victory. Next on the agenda is a home\u00a0league game against UCC, which will take place at 5pm on the 4G pitches in UL. All support\u00a0would be greatly appreciated!<\/p>\n
ULLR are always looking for new members; prior experience is not necessary! If you\u00a0are interested please email ulwolves@gmail.com or message our Facebook page \u201cUL Ladies\u00a0Rugby\u201d. We train on Mondays and Thursdays from 6-7pm on the north campus 4G pitch.<\/p>\n
By Mollie O\u2019Donnell (PRO for UL Ladies Rugby)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n