Buttimer brace carries Clovers past Wolfhounds
And Her After Lane Side's Scoring Ben Try Clovers' Emily Breen Third Brady/inpho Buttimer Enya Beth Celebrates Pic: With
Ireland Under-20 hooker Beth Buttimer bagged a brace of tries as the Clovers triumphed 31-10 at the UCD Bowl to hand the Wolfhounds their first ever Celtic Challenge defeat.
Meeting for the second time in six days, Denis Fogarty's Clovers side managed to avenge their 33-7 first round defeat to their Irish rivals with their superior lineout work and maul key weapons throughout.
The addition of three Ireland internationals to the Clovers' starting pack had the desired impact, as a late first-half surge netted them tries from Ivana Kiripati and player-of-the-match Buttimer.
The Wolfhounds were 10 points to the good through Ireland Under-18 powerhouse Alma Atagamen (5 minutes) and dual international Vicky Elmes Kinlan (26), before the Clovers gradually converted their possession into points to lead 12-10 at half-time.
It was 31 points and five tries without reply in the end, as the defending champions struggled to contain their opponents’ maul. Buttimer and equally impressive lock Jane Neill were both driven over, the latter pocketing the bonus point in the 66th minute.
Hannah Clarke added a well-taken intercept effort to seal a huge result for the Clovers who play Gwalia Lightning from Wales in next Saturday’s Kingspan Stadium double header. The Wolfhounds will aim to bounce back against Glasgow Warriors.
Méabh Deely (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht); Alana McInerney (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Ellen Boylan (Blackrock College RFC/Munster), Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC/Munster) (capt), Hannah Clarke (Galwegians RFC/Connacht); Nicole Fowley (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC); Siobhán McCarthy (Railway Union RFC/Munster), Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster), Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Jane Neill (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht), Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere RFC/Munster), Ivana Kiripati (Creggs RFC/Connacht).
Emily Gavin (Railway Union RFC/Connacht), Grainne Burke (UL Bohemian RFC), Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen RFC/Railway Union RFC/Ulster), Faith Oviawe (Railway Union RFC/Connacht), Jemima Adams Verling (Creggs RFC/Connacht), Grainne Moran (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Aoife Corey (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Chisom Ugwueru (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster).
Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC); Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC), Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC), Amy Larn (Athy RFC/Leinster); Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Katie Whelan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster); Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Maebh Clenaghan (Queen’s University RFC/Cooke RFC/Ulster), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Alma Atagamen (Balbriggan RFC), Poppy Garvey (Railway Union RFC/Connacht), Molly Boyne (Railway Union RFC/Leinster), Claire Boles (Railway Union RFC/Ulster) (capt), Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster).
Kelly Burke (Mullingar RFC/Leinster), Tricia Doyle (Railway Union RFC), Caoimhe Molloy (Wicklow RFC/Leinster), Cliodhna Ni Chonchobhair (Blackrock College RFC), Lucinda Kinghan (Railway Union RFC/Ulster), Erin McConnell (Wicklow RFC), Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere RFC), Megan Burns (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster).
Sam Holt (IRFU)