Munster proved to be a strong outfit as they overcame a determined Ulster 29-22 in a sun soaked Virgin Media Park.
Alana McInerney got Munster’s scoring underway in the 7th minute after intercepting an Ulster pass in their 22. Kate Flannery followed with the conversion.
Captain Chloe Pearse dotted over in the 14th minute after breaking off the back of a stalled maul. The conversion that followed drifted just wide.
McInerney crashed over in the corner for her second try in 10 minutes. Flannery’s conversion dropped just short.
Ulster got their first score on the board in the 25th minute when Tara O’Neil crashed over. Vicky Irwin followed with the conversion but sent it just right of the posts.
Muirne Wall was subbed off in 30th minute to make way for Abbie Salter-Townshend
It was hattrick time for Alana McInerney in the 34th minute as Munster widened their lead to 22-5 with just five minutes remaining in the half.
Michelle O’Driscoll made her Munster senior debut in the 37th minute as she replaced hattrick hero Alana McInerney.
Ulster were reduced to 14 just before the half time whistle as prop Sophie Barrett was shown a yellow.
Running into the sheds at half time, Munster had a comfortable lead at 22-5.
Ulster crashed over for their second try of the afternoon in the 44th minute. Vicky Irwin sent the conversion straight through the uprights
Less than 10 minutes into the second half and the score now stood at 22-12.
A second Munster senior debut occurred in the 45th minute as Loughborough Lightning’s Lucia Linn replaced Maggie Boylan.
A line break for UL Bohs speedster Chisom Ugwueru saw her touch down in the 52nd minute securing the bonus point. Kate Flannery’s conversion that followed was sent straight through the uprights.
Ciara McLoughlin made her Munster senior debut in the 56th minute as she replaced Eilis Cahill. Clodagh O’ Halloran was also replaced in the second-row by Aoibhe O’Flynn.
It was Ulster’s Lucy Thompson who dotted down in the 65th minute. Irwin’s conversion after was missed.
Annakate Cournane and Ciara O’Dwyer also made their Munster senior debuts in the 67th minute as they replaced Jane Clohessy and Siobhan McCarthy.
After a solid shift camped in Munster’s 22 Ulster’s Brittany Hogan crashed over for their fourth try of the afternoon in the 76th minute. Irwin’s conversion drifted wide.
Emma Dunican replaced Beth Buttimer in the 78th minute.
It was Munster who came out victorious at the full time whistle with a score line of 29-22 with Claire Bennett winning the Vodafone Player of the Match. With the bonus-point secured it was a successful day at the office for Fiona Hayes’ squad.
