Superb first half display seals win for Munster U21 Women

Munster U21 24 Penn State 10

A superb first half performance from the Munster U21 side was enough to see them through their first challenge this year as they overcame Penn State in Cork.

The rising Munster stars scored all of their points in the opening forty minutes and put the game beyond doubt by the half time whistle.

They got off to a fantastic start with scores coming fast and early and they recorded three early tries through impressive centres Niamh Briggs, Sandra Williams and Clonakilty number eight Jane Lowney.

17-year-old out half Nicole Fitzgerald also contributed two points.

After that, there was no stopping the host team, as an impressive Briggs added another after a fine solo run. It was too much to come back from for the visiting Americans.

The Americans did present a better threat in the second half, with out-half Amber Benlion especially sound with her boot, and their effective maul also presented problems for Munster, who did make a raft of substitutes.

They were rewarded when Benlion skipped through a number of tackles to score a try early in the second half and it was a solid maul that brought their second score before the end when Sarah Carter touched down.

Penn State will now face the Munster senior team on Thursday night at Temple Hill. Kick off is at 7.30pm.

Munster: L Brick, A Deasy, S Williams, N Briggs, F O’ Sullivan, N Fitzgerald, C Rigney, J Ryan, C Kirwan, N Cuddihy, L Healy, L Landers, K Sheehan, O O’ Keeffe, J Lowney.

Penn State: D Kleine, A Parks, B Vesyl, A Bowman, AK Bodison, A Benlion, L Veisz, A Petko, A Winter, D Keller, C Hood, S Carter, S Doherty, J Leiberman, R Daley

Referee: B Brunt (MAR).