Our U16 girls delivered a stellar performance on the road on Saturday, claiming a thrilling 29-22 victory over Ballincollig RFC in a match that showcased skill, determination, and teamwork.
The game started with a strong opening from us as Nessa powered through the Ballincollig defence to score the first try of the game. Isabelle calmly slotted the conversion to give us an early 7-0 lead. Ballincollig responded quickly with a try of their own, but they failed to add the extras, keeping us narrowly ahead at 7-5.
Midway through the first half, Hannah made her mark with a well-earned try, extending our lead. The conversion attempt fell short, but the momentum stayed with our girls. Nessa was unstoppable once again, crossing the line for her second try, and Isabelle added the conversion to give us a solid advantage.
However, Ballincollig fought back fiercely and were awarded a penalty try following sustained pressure, cutting the deficit. Undeterred, Nessa completed her first-half hat-trick with another determined run to score just before the break. The conversion missed, but we held a commanding 24-12 lead heading into halftime.
The second half saw Ballincollig come out firing, scoring an early try to keep the pressure on. Nessa went off with an ankle injury midway through the 2nd half, but then Harriet, demonstrating both grit and precision, responded with a superb try after spotting space and an opportunity for a pick and go from the back of a ruck 15m out to give us some breathing space. Despite this, Ballincollig refused to back down, scoring another try late on to close the gap.
In the end, our girls held their nerve and defended strongly in the dying minutes to secure a 29-22 victory. Nessa’s hat-trick and Isabelle’s accuracy with the boot proved decisive, while the entire team’s effort and resilience ensured the win. Subs were used regularly and many new players got valuable minutes, some in the heat of battle and really performed brilliantly.
Player of the Match: Despite Nessa getting her incredible hat-trick and relentless energy, Harriet won out with her solo moment of brilliance combined with her hard work throughout the game. Special mention also to Daimhin who played her first game for us and had a great 15 minutes as part of the starting 15. Well done, girls!
A huge thank you to Ballincollig RFC for hosting us and for a fantastic, hard fought contest. This result keeps our momentum rolling as we look ahead to the next match early in the new year. And thanks again to all those who came along and supported on the road!
Courtesy of Tony Dunne
