The Devenish College girls rugby team became Ulster x7s champions this week after an undefeated season of rugby.

Over the year, two Devenish teams comprising girls from years 9-11 competed in three West of Ulster qualifying rounds, taking on teams from Donegal to Banbridge as well as local opponents, ERGS.

Both teams competed really strongly throughout, with the A team unbeaten in 15 games.

Both teams qualified for the Ulster finals in Cookstown’s Meadowbank Sports Arena along with 15 other teams from 12 schools.

Devenish were the only school to bring 26 girls and a third team, consisting mostly of Year 9 future stars in the participation section.

It must be noted how well these young girls competed, even recording a win over Sullivan with Lexie Thompson totalling five tries.

Also in this side were Ellie McKeown, Amy Walker, Alice Johnston, Saskia Graham, Brooke Hunter and Katie Orr, with the injured Erin Nelson managing them.

In the finals, team two did tremendously well in their group.

Captained by Karla Crozier, they recorded wins over Belfast High School and Newbridge College to qualify for the quarter finals where they lost to Omagh Academy.

Well done to Karla Crozier, Caiomhe McKenzie, Hannah Thompson, Chelsea Bell, Abigail Kernaghan, Carrie McCourt, Aerin Daley, Mia McGraph and Lilly-Ella Morrison. Most are eligible to compete again next season.

The pressure was on the A team. Despite being unbeaten in the qualifiers, all was up for grabs again on Finals day.

The winners and runners-up from each of the four groups qualified for the quarters.

The Devenish team led by Sarah Johnston, also part of the Ulster Development squad, had a shaky start, drawing their opener 2-2 with Foyle College, Alice Reynolds and Sarah Johnston the late scorers to earn the draw.

The nerves shook off they faced Sullivan in game two, a 5-0 win with tries coming from Ellie Gordon, Rowena Kells, Julia Mulligan, Alice Reynolds and Rebecca Read.

They found their groove in the third game; already qualified based on bonus points, a 6-1 win against Strangford meant they qualified top in their group.

Tries came from Julia Mulligan (2), Lilly Campbell, Kelly Burford, Sarah Johnston and Rowena Kells.

They drew Mach Ene College, Donegal in the quarter final.

There followed a tough contest where they conceded two soft tries, but fought back from 2-1 down to win 4-2.

Tries came from Alice Seaney, Ellie Gordon, Julia Mulligan and Rowena Kells.

It was a second meeting with Foyle College in the semi-final, but unlike their opening game the team was really starting to flow now and made no mistakes with a comprehensive 6-2 win. Tries came from Julia (3), Lilly, Kelly and Alice Seaney.

The other semi-final saw Armagh Royal through on a first to score 3-3 draw with Omagh Academy.

A quick and determined start saw Devenish up two tries early on, but a try in response from a fast Armagh side put the pressure back on.

Restored

Two further tries just before the half time restored the cushion, and in the second half the fitness prevailed as Devenish added a further five tries, only conceding once more in their most confident and fluent performance of the day; final score 9-2 with an impressive try count from the two speedster wingers, Julia (6) and Rowena (3).

A spent, but delighted, Captain Sarah Johnston lifted the cup with her teammates in front of her proud dad, Shane, who has helped transport and support the team throughout the season.

Special thanks also for all the parents’ support with transport, photography, scorekeeping and refreshments.

They and the squad of girls look forward to the journey to Dublin for the finals against the seven other provincial school finalists after Easter.

Before that, eight Devenish girls head to the Ulster trials U-16s’ open day and we wish them luck with that.

 

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