UL Bohs Women Top All Ireland League Table

UL Bohemian Women top the table and will take on Railway Union in the semi final of the Women’s All Ireland League play-off’s.

Match Report:- Courtesy of Kate Rowan, www.irishrugby.ie

UL Bohemians v Railway Union and Blackrock v Old Belvedere are the semi-final match-ups in the Women's All-Ireland League following a dramatic final round of the regular season. The two semi-finals take place next Sunday with the final scheduled for Saturday, December 12 at Donnybrook (kick-off 6pm).

UL Bohemians finished top of the table after shattering Blackrock's unbeaten record at Stradbrook, with the Limerick side running out 22-7 winners in a fascinating final round clash.

For the majority of the opening half hour, Blackrock were camped in the visitors' 22 and had two try-scoring efforts held up thanks to some heroic defending from the likes of Munster number 8 Chloe Pearse and Six Nations-winning front rower Fiona Hayes.

Against the run of play, Bohs winger Liz Bourke broke away to touch down in the 33rd minute. Ireland captain Niamh Briggs could not add the extras.

Blackrock showed their class as the seasoned New Zealand-born Ireland international Tania Rosser, playing at out-half, scored under the posts. Recent Ireland new cap Jeamie Deacon converted to give the hosts a 7-5 interval lead.

Playing with their wind at their backs in the second half, UL dazzled Blackrock with two tries in quick succession, the first from Pearse six minutes in and then Bourke dashed down the wing to score her second of the afternoon with 52 minutes gone. Briggs converted Bourke's second try.

At 17-5 down, Blackrock began to regain their composure and Deacon looked to have an excellent try-scoring opportunity as she made strong run on the hour mark. However, the centre was stopped in her tracks by Hayes, who was yellow carded for a deliberate infringement.

The momentum swung back in favour of Bohs despite being their numerical disadvantage. They sealed a vital bonus point victory when Bourke completed her hat-trick in the 70th minute. As a result of the 22-7 loss, 'Rock were knocked off their perch at the summit, with only a point separating them and table toppers UL.

The semi-finals will be played next Sunday with UL Bohemian entertaining Railway Union and Blackrock hosting Old Belvedere, in a repeat of the 2014 final.