Powerful Longford Rugby Club Ladies win the Midlands Plate

Tullamore RFC . . . 0     Longford RFC . . . 47 

Longford received the kick off and put in a few good phases with forwards and backs getting involved.  The first 10 mins had both teams fighting hard for possession, but it was Longford who struck first with a great break from out half Megan Banahan to score with Tegan Evans adding the conversion.  

From the kick-off Longford controlled possession with the backline making some great breaks before captain Maria Kellaher used her power and pace to go over in the corner for a try with Tegan Evans putting in an incredible kick to add the 2 points.  Tara Gilna and Amanda Sheridan were working well in the line outs securing clean ball to attack from.

  Longford were using their kicking game to good effect and forcing Tullamore into knock ons, from the scrum Megan passed to Leona who offloaded to Tegan who popped the ball to the on-rushing Michelle Mulvey who out paced everyone to score with Tegan converting. Tullamore came back at Longford and forced their way into the Longford 22, but the defence held firm with everyone working hard. Some great work at ruck time saw Longford steal possession on numerous occasions. 

Jessica Stewart, Rebeka Stavuse, Jasmine Smyth, Roisin Shaw, Dora Ledwith were putting in some serious tackles and great breaks around the rucks. From one of these steals the ball came out to full back Rachel O'Farrell who kicked chased only to be obstructed but Tegan managed to get to the ball first and run in for a try which she converted. With that the referee blew for half time with Longford leading 28-0.

Longford introduced subs Mary Sheridan and Amy Molloy in the front row for the start of the second half and  started the second half well forcing Tullamore into errors.

From a knock on, Michelle Mulvey gathered a messy ball to run half the pitch to score under the posts with the conversion added. Longford were putting some lovely phases together with forwards and backs interlinking with Amy Molloy making several powerful breaks.

 Longford introduced Amanda Ryan, Aoife Coleman and Caoimhe Baskett. Tullamore were on the attack, but Rebeka Stavuse was up quick in defence and intercepted the ball she popped it to Emma Dardis who whipped it to Maria Kelleher who powered forward before passing to Samantha McHale who offloaded to Megan Banahan and with a great hand off went over for a try. 

Tullamore had their purple patch but just couldn't break through the Longford defence.  The last try of the match was scored by Tegan Evans who put in a grubber kick that got half blocked, but a clever kick ahead saw Tegan touch the ball down over the line. 

Longford: Jessica Stewart, Tara Gilna, Roisin Shaw, Jasmine Smyth, Rebeka Stavuse, Amanda Sheridan, Maria Kellaher, Dora Ledwith, Emma Dardis, Megan Banahan, Leona Hoare, Tegan Evans, Samantha McHale, Michelle Mulvey, Rachel O’Farrell, Mary Sheridan, Amy Molloy, Aoife Coleman, Amanda Ryan, Caoimhe Baskett.

Home to Athy on Sunday next 

Next up, the Longford ladies welcome Athy on Sunday next, for the last home league game of the season. This is an important game as Athy are only 1 point behind Longford in the table.