North Midlands 66 Metro 15

North Midlands made it two wins from two in the Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Sarah Robinson Cup at Energia Park on Thursday.

There was no holding back in this one, North Midlands getting out of the blocks quickly for full-back Amy Larn to round the defence.

It looked like being a real shootout when Metro scrum-half Charlotte Nagle took off from a quick tap to catch North Midlands sleeping for a fine opportunist try.

However, the winners rattled off three quick tries by Alanna Fitzpatrick, from distance, lock Koren Dunne, on a superb support line, and centre Taragh Kirwan, through the middle, Amy Rushton converting the latter to take control 22-5 by the 12th minute.

The willingness to counter off loose clearances paid dividends when Rushton took the ball back for the fifth try, also converted, in the 18th minute.

Wing Fitzpatrick popped up on the left for her second in spite of Metro full-back Brooke Merrigan-Fagan covering a lot of ground in defence ahead of Larn’s second touchdown.

Front-rowers Anna Brennock and Aimee Breen were making the hard yards for Metro without the penetration to take it further, centre Kirwan’s footwork good for her second.

Metro did put together a period of continuity to stretch their opponents to breaking point, Breen unable to ground the ball from close range.

From the start of the second half, it was all about dealing with adversity for Metro, especially when lively lock Dunne crossed on the left.

Metro did manage to hold the ball and move it wide for centre Eva Sterritt to split the cover for a tonic of a try in the 44th minute.

They were looking to escape again when centre Fiona Fennessy stepped up for an interception and prop Hannah Wilson picked up one, converted by flanker Amy Maguire.

To their credit, Metro bounced back, Aimee Breen leading the way, for wing Robin Hyland to reach for the line in the 59th minute.

It was left for Rushton to complete the count of a dozen tries.

Scorers – North Midlands – A Rushton two tries, two cons; A Fitzpatrick, A Larn, T Kirwan, K Dunne two tries each; F Fennessy, H Wilson try each; A Maguire con. Metro: C Nagle, E Sterritt, R Hyland try each.

North Midlands – Amy Larn (Athy); Roisin Kehoe (Athy), Fiona Fennessy (Athy), Tragh Kirwan (Port Dara), Alanna Fitzpatrick (Port Dara); Amy Rushton (Newbridge), Julie Nolan (Athy); Hannah Wilson (Port Dara), Sarah Delaney (Port Dara), Abi Keatley-Kindregan (Athy); Blathnaid Smith (Port Dara), Koren Dunne (Portlaoise); Amy Maguire (Naas), Aoife Thompson (Port Dara), Orla McDonald (Newbridge).

Replacements used: Emma Tully (Naas), Katie Halpin (Naas), Faye O’Toole (Clane), Allie Henry (Athy), Orla Doyle (Naas).

Metro – Brooke Fagan-Merrigan (Clontarf); Sarah Emerson (St Andrew’s College), Eva Sterritt (Greystones), Sadhbh Furlong (Greystones), Robin Hyland (MU Barnhall); Hannah Scanlan (Clontarf), Charlotte Nagle (Greystones); Hope Lowney (MU Barnhall), Anna Brennock (Old Belvedere), Aimee Breen (St Mary’s College); Katie Colton (MU Barnhall), Laoise McAuley (MU Barnhall), Sarah Moody (Greystones), Isobel O’Sullivan (Greystones), Amy O’Mahony (Greystones).

Replacements used: Julie Aphanacieff (Wesley College), Amy Bond (Wesley College), Sinead Kinsella (Clontarf), Saidhbh Poulaiin (DLSP), Abi Turner (The King’s Hospital).