Womens Rugby: Wales win Triple Crown at Taffs Well

[mjon3105]

by Mike O'Neill

To Wales the glory - they scored a narrow 13-10 win over a gallant Irish fifteen and with it their first ever Triple Crown at sun soaked Taffs Well today.
The RBS 6 Nations Champions though are England who won 72-3 against Scotland at the London Welsh RFC in Richmond earlier this afternoon.That game saw Worcester's Katherine Merchant score four tries whilst a hat trick came from Charlotte Barras of Saracens.

In Taffs Well, Welsh tries came from Jenny Davies and Non Evans - the latter also scored the decisive penalty at a time when Yvonne Nolan was sin binned for lying on the ball.

Ireland's try scorer was Shannon Houston and the try was converted by Niamh Briggs who also scored a penalty .The Irish never gave up and Lynne Cantwell came close more than once, as did Amy Davis when she came on , but on the day the Welsh deserved their win - a first Triple Crown since their National womens team was formed some 22 years ago.

For Ireland a disappointment then but they had shown much improvement during the 6 nations which augurs well for the future.

Undoubtedly though in this campaign they did miss the calming influence of former captain, Sarahjane Belton, who had to retire from the game due to a back injury last October having played in 60 consecutive internationals for her country.

Coach Steven Hennessy in his first year in charge has moulded together a good mix of experience and young players and he - and they - can look forward to 2010 when the Womens World Championships will be played in London.


Mike O'Neill