Combined Provinces Complete Clean Sweep In Celtic Challenge Competition

The Combined Provinces completed a successful Celtic Challenge Campaign with a 33-26 win over The Thistles in Edinburgh at the weekend.

Greg McWilliams’ side made it four wins from four with that win with the campaign having six Munster players involved throughout the four matches.

Claire Bennett, Enya Breen, Aoife Doyle, Deirbhile Nic a Bháird, Clodagh O’Halloran and Maeve Óg O’Leary all received game-time through the campaign.

Nic a Bháird continued her good form from Munster’s Women’s Interprovincial Championship success starting all four games, two at hooker and two at flanker, for the Combined Provinces and scoring three tries.

Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird
©INPHO

Clodagh O’Halloran and Claire Bennett were both involved throughout the campaign after forming a successful second-row partnership during the Intepros. O’Halloran started the first two games for the Combined Provinces while Bennett started two and was on the bench for two which included a try against The Thistles in Round 2.

Enya Breen and Aoife Doyle both started a game each with Breen scoring two tries in the weekend’s game against The Thistles in Edinburgh.

Meanwhile, Maeve Óg O’Leary was involved in all four games, starting three, while she scored a try in the Round 2 clash with The Thistles in Belfast.

Combined Provinces XV Results

The Thistles 26 Combined Provinces XV 33, DAM Health Stadium – Saturday. February 25

Scorers: Combined Provines: Tries: Aoife Wafer, Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird, Enya Breen 2, penalty try Cons: Dannah O’Brien 3

Combined Provinces XV 19 WRU Development XV 0, Kingspan Stadium, 4.30pm – Saturday, February 18

Scorers: Combined Provinces: Tries: Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird, Kayla Waldron, Aoife Wafter

Cons: Dannah O’ Brien 2

Combined Provinces XV 45 The Thistles 12, Kingspan Stadium – Saturday, February 4

Scorers: Combined Provinces: Tries: Leah Tarpey, Claire Bennett, Maeve Óg O’Leary, Ella Roberts 2, Aoife Dalton, Deirbhile Nic a Bháird; Cons: Dannah O’Brien 4, Hannah O’Connor

WRU Development XV 26 Combined Provinces XV 27, Cardiff Arms Park – Sunday, January 29

Scorers: Combined Provinces: Tries: Ella Roberts 2, Emma Hooban, Ailsa Hughes, Aoife Dalton; Con: Dannah O’Brien