Women's representative match/Leinster 0...South African Falcons 22: The Leinster women's team were well beaten by the South African provincial champions the Ekurhuleni Falcons, the first women's touring side to represent South Africa, at Donnybrook last night.
The physical punishment dished out in the tackle and the forward-oriented persistence of their opponents were too much for the Irish side but there was a valuable lesson to be learned in terms of the standards the province should aspire too.
With forward momentum guaranteed, half backs Kim Maddocks and Christelle du Preez dictated the pace of a game they had wrapped up by the hour mark after three well worked tries.
Leinster defended admirably in a frantic opening period that saw Sarah Lachowsky and Grace Davitt both forced off as the intimidating Eastern Transvaal side looked to force their way over the try line.
Leinster almost took the lead on the quarter-hour mark against the run of play, only for a penalty from Aroha Nathan to go agonisingly wide of the uprights.
However, the siege continued down the other end and after 22 minutes scrumhalf Maddocks forced her way over the line after a series of drives from her pack.
The injury count continued to mount up for Leinster, as two more of their players were forced to retire, while the Falcons began to spread their wings, with Louise Kahn brushing aside Jacqui Horan on her way in under the posts.
However, the expected rout didn't follow with just a penalty from Maddocks the South Africans' only other score in the opening half.
The visitors' forward dominance continue to deny Leinster any platform after the break. Try number three duly arrived, again from close quarters, when Rina Laubeschange burrowed over on 44 minutes. Maddocks converted.
Some fine handling by the entire Leinster back line finally released winger Melissa Slevin into space on the right but aggressive cover tackling prevented them building up any second- or third-phase possession.
A raft of changes on both sides made the second period a dour affair, with no scoring in the final 36 minutes of play. To Leinster's credit they forced their opponents into some desperate late defence on their own line but a charge from Lynn Hartmann was expertly turned over by Du Preez.
Another injury, this time to left-wing Emma O'Riordan, that required her to be stretchered off, brought the casualty count up to six and hooker Manuella McCarthy followed soon after to leave the home side bruised, battered and beaten.
LEINSTER: A Nathan; M Slevin, G Davitt, S Delany, E O'Byrne; S Lachowsky, F Wise; S McAleer, M McCarthy, K Hennessy, L Hartmann, J Manning, E Borjesson, Y Nolan, A McAllister. Subs: T Bergin for Lachowsky (5 mins), J Horan for Davitt (8 mins), J O'Riordan for Manning (25 mins), A Coleman for McAllister (31 mins), S Corcoran for McAleer (55 mins), T Brannigan for O'Byrne (64 mins), L Hanby for McCarthy (77 mins).
SOUTH AFRICAN FALCONS: L Bothma; P Moutlong, S Shabangu, S Buthelezi, A Smit; C Du Preez, K Maddocks; H Laubeschagne, L Dreyer, R Smith, E Dreyer, S Botha, N Cossadianos, F Bligaut, L Kahn. Subs: M Ntobo for Botha, L Masila for for R Smith (all 55 mins), J Muller for Shabangu (65 mins).
Referee: A Acheson (Naas).
