Tallaght women remain in third place

TALLAGHT RFC Women’s team took on Wanderers in Division Five of the women’s league on pitch 100 in Firhouse last weekend in a winning effort.

Tallaght started the game well and Aishling Pyke finished off a good team move to score the first try of the game. Grainne Leonard Flood would successfully convert to give Tallaght a 7-0 lead.

Pyke would continue to show her impact throughout the half and would link up in a great move with Kim Littlefield.

Littlefield was brought down just short of the try line but Lousie Leonard Flood was on hand to follow up and burrow her way through to grab Tallaght’s second try of the game. Her wife Grainne again made the conversion to make it 14-0 in Tallaght’s favour.

Wanderers then began offensive moves of their own and put Tallaght under some major pressure.

The Tallaght backline held resolutely however thanks to Adriana Silvela, Ellen Kelly and Martina Fitzpatrick making big tackles and eventually forcing a turnover.

Tallaght would survive the onslaught and make their way down the pitch again with strong carries from Emma Irvin and Sam Ledden.

It would be Aisling Pyke once again getting over the line from close range making the score 19-0 with Tallaght dominating proceedings.

Wanderers did not lie down and roll over however and would score out wide to make it 19-5 but Pyke would complete her hattrick of tries to make the halftime score 24-5.

Wanderers worked their way back into the game during the second half and began to dominate the possession. They would eventually be rewarded for their efforts with a try to make the game 24-10.

Tallaght responded in kind however and after carriers from Abbie Keeley and Clodagh Cullagh, found themselves at the other end of the pitch with Lorraine McManus getting the ball over the line to make the score 29-10.

Wanderers kept on coming and their full back who had an excellent game, bypassed several Tallaght defenders to get a try with a successful conversion making the score 29-17 with ten minutes on the clock.

It was closer than Tallaght had anticipated the game to be following the dominance in the first half and the remaining ten minutes was nervy to say the least.

A smart kick from Abbie Keeley got them back up the pitch and Aisling Pyke made the most of it securing her fourth try in the game with what was a player of the match performance.

Pyke’s scoring antics left the final score 34-17 to Tallaght, securing them a vital win and remaining in third place in the table.

Tallaght head coach Adam Nolan was pleased with the overall display.

“The workrate was very good throughout and we built our play intelligently and took our tries well. We maybe let them back into it a little in the second half but we finished strongly and got the final score of the game. We now have a trip to Ferbane next week before a week off for the Bank Holiday weekend. We like how we’re playing and we want to keep the momentum going.”