Last year's champions Leinster and runners-up Munster got their 2025 Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship campaigns off to perfect starts courtesy of home bonus-point wins over Ulster and Connacht respectively.
Leinster debutant Emma Brogan and Munster flyer Chisom Ugweru each crossed for a hat-trick of tries to leave the provinces level on points at the top of the round robin table ahead of next Saturday's clash.
LEINSTER 37-21 ULSTER
A much-changed Leinster began their bid for a third straight Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship title with a 37-21 home win over Ulster, giving new head coach Ben Martin a positive start in the process.
Two of Leinster’s 13 debutants, Kathy Baker and Emma Brogan (2), contributed tries as they built a 22-14 half-time lead at Energia Park. Ireland Under-20 captain Jane Neill also scored from the base of the scrum.
After defending for much of the first half, Ulster were clinical with a couple of scoring chances approaching the interval. Siobhán Sheerin marked her first appearance at this level with a fine try, and also converted captain India Daley’s follow-up effort.
Jade Gaffney and Baker, the Vodafone player-of-the-match, both crossed during the third quarter, with Ulster losing Brenda Barr to the sin bin not long after a Sophie Barrett try.
Murray Houston’s improving side had enough possession to bag a bonus point or two of their own, but the excellent Baker teed up Brogan’s hat-trick score as Leinster quickly turn their attention to next Saturday’s visit of arch rivals Munster.
SCORERS:
Leinster: Tries - Emma Brogan (3), Kathy Baker (2), Jane Neill, Jade Gaffney
Con: Nikki Caughey
Ulster: Tries - Siobhán Sheerin, India Daley, Sophie Barrett
Cons: Siobhán Sheerin (3)
MUNSTER 44-5 CONNACHT
Munster had too much pace and power for a young Connacht team in Cork, as Chisom Ugwueru helped herself to a hat-trick of tries in a runaway 44-5 victory.
With Matt Brown back as head coach for the first time since 2021, and Maeve Óg O'Leary taking on the captaincy, Munster comfortably won their only home game in this season’s Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship.
Ava Ryder’s 29th-minute try was the sole score for a gallant Connacht, who trailed 22-5 at half-time after Munster debutant Gráinne Burke, Ugwueru (2), and Aoife Corey had all touched down.
Ugwueru, the Ennis flyer, took care of the bonus point with a brilliant effort from inside her own half. Vodafone player-of-the-match Caitríona Finn pulled the strings at out-half, having a hand in most of Munster’s best moments.
Connacht, who host Ulster next Saturday, lost Poppy Garvey to a 52nd-minute sin-binning, and Ugwueru and replacement Kate Flannery both scored while she was off. Stephanie Nunan and Brianna Heylmann bookended the second half with well-taken tries.
SCORERS:
Munster: Tries - Chisom Ugwueru (3), Gráinne Burke, Aoife Corey, Stephanie Nunan, Kate Flannery, Brianna Heylmann
Cons: Caitríona Finn (2)
Connacht: Try - Ava Ryder
