Girls Youth Cup U-14 Final

This article first appeared on the Leinster Rugby website on 5th May: Sharks, PortDara and Mullingar take the crowns on Girls Youths Cup finals day

SHARKS 19-19 MULLINGAR (Sharks win on first try rule)

The Sharks — an amalgamation of Blackrock College, Old Belvedere & Terenure College — were crowned Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Under-14 Cup champions at the end of a high-quality final.

Little did both clubs know at the time but the first try would have a greater overall impact than just the seven points delivered in the 10th minute.

A show-and-go from Clodagh McLoughlin and instant acceleration unlocked the Mullingar defence to score from 60 metres. Out-half McLoughlin recovered her composure to add on the conversion.

Mullingar were edging the battle for possession and territory to place maximum pressure on a solid Sharks defence. 

However, there was only so much time they could spend without the ball before Emma Williams powered over for a try, which she converted to level things up at 7-all in the 16th minute.

The Sharks looked threatening every time they moved it wide, with full-back Estelle Fevrier denied by a last-ditch tackle.

The same fate waited for winger Maisie O’Brien after latching on to a perfectly judged cross-kick from the astute McLoughlin.

The bravery of the Sharks’ work without the ball was rewarded when they moved the ball well to make ground.

A clever switch of play created enough deception for second row Lucie Caprice to barge over in the middle. McLoughlin converted to give Sharks a 14-7 advantage at half-time.

After the break, Mullingar set up camp in the Sharks’ half for 15 minutes to turn the screw with pressure provided by a relentless forward pack.

It took a monumental effort to keep them at bay, led by the aggression of second row Aaliyah Chisi and blindside flanker Elise Fevrier in the forwards.

The increasingly influential Sofia Glynn in the centre was central to closing down ball carriers, with Mullingar being held up over the line an astonishing three times.

The Westmeath club could have become frustrated. Instead, they doubled down on the intensity to crack Sharks’ open to draw level. Full-back Isabelle Mulligan was the one to eventually drive over for the try as Williams converted with seven minutes left to play.

Sharks took initiative again from the kick off, gaining yards with a couple of big carries from loosehead prop Emily O’Brien.

When the time was right, the ball was shifted wide for Mischa Arfhan to beat a couple of tacklers on the way to the corner flag for the try.

As the seconds moved by, Mullingar drove forward in search of the winning score. The Sharks held their discipline, but not their line, as wing Caoimhe Shanley squeezed over in the corner but the missed conversion meant the teams were tied.

With no further scoring, the title was decided on the first-try rule, handing Sharks a narrow and hard-fought victory.

SHARKS: Estelle Fevrier; Maisie O’Brien, Callie Imrie-Browne, Sofia Glynn, Mischa Arfhan; Clodagh McLoughlin, Romy O’Grady-Varley; Emily Byrne, Rebecca Twomey, Claudia Lynch, Aaliyah Chisi, Lucy Caprice, Elise Fevrier, Zara Wallace, Penny Lucas.

Replacements: Nessa Sheehan, Daisy Nic Giolla Phadraig, Kate Healy, Alannah Butterly, Daria Murphy, Lucy Treacy, Lena Kelly, Maria Santos-Cogan.

Scorers: C McLoughlin try, 2 cons; L Caprice, M Arfhan try.