Ireland Women's rugby side got off to a great start by hammering Mexico 64-0 in their first game at the Women's Sevens Dublin tournament at the UCD Bowl today.
There are 12 teams looking for a top-two finish and a coveted place on the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series at the tournament.
Ireland scored ten tries with Amee-Leigh Crowe(2), Katie Fitzhenry, Jenny Murphy(2), Lucy Mulhall, Audrey O'Flynn amongst the try-scorers and amongst the most impressive of performers.
Joe Schmidt was in attendance and quite possibly picked up some tips too. It was certainly a professional and impressive win for Ireland to start the competition.
Face in the crowd. Joe Schmidt is here to support the Girls in Green. Live @ 12:50 http://t.co/6lrLMSlATN #womens7s pic.twitter.com/QPCDYq3EzC
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) August 22, 2015
However, the afternoon game proved to be a much more difficult test for the team as they lost in a hard-fought match against South Africa.
Phumeza Gadu scored a try right before the break to give the Boks a 5-0 lead going in to half-time, but the Girls in Green came back out and leveled quickly through Katie Fitzhenry.
©INPHO/Colm O'Neill
Ireland had plenty of possession but two more tries from South Africa sealed their win and their position atop Pool C.
However, Ireland still go through to the Cup quarter finals, so there's plenty of action to look forward to as the tournament continues tomorrow.
IRELAND: 1. Audrey O'Flynn, 2. Jenny Murphy, 3. Stacey Flood, 4. Hannah Tyrrell, 5. Amee-Leigh Crowe, 6. Ashleigh Baxter, 7. Katie Fitzhenry, 8. Claire Keohane, 9. Lucy Mulhall, 10. Claire Molloy, 11. Louise Galvin, 12. Alison Miller.
