Edenderry Ladies claim Leinster title with superb win

THE Edenderry Ladies Rugby team claimed the Leinster League Division 1 title in Athy last Saturday with an 8-5 win over Rathdrum in the final

Leinster Ladies League Division 1 Final

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Edenderry 8

Rathdrum 5

What made the win all the more impressive was that they had to come from behind with a late try from Sandra Brown eventually proving to be the decisive score.

Played in appalling conditions, the game was always going to be a battle and that is how it turned out but it was Edenderry who came out on top with a memorable win.

Edenderry had stormed through the league phase losing just one game on their way to the final. They had recorded two wins over Rathdrum however both games were very close with the game in Edenderry finishing 17-12 and the game in Rathdrum ending 3-0. That game in Rathdrum had been played in early January and it was a very accurate guide as to how last Saturday’s final would go.

Against a very strong and physical Rathdrum side, Edenderry controlled the game for large passages but scores proved very difficult to come by.

With the wind at their backs, Edenderry only managed to build a 3-0 lead at the break with Shauna O’Brien slotting over a penalty.

Rathdrum piled on the pressure in the second half but Edenderry defended stoutly their lead intact for much of the half. However Rathdrum did manage to get through for a try and Edenderry were up against it entering the final stages.

With the game on the line, Edenderry managed to move into the Rathdrum half and a fine individual effort from Sandra Brown produced the game winning try.

She blocked down an attempted clearance from Rathdrum and she reacted quickest to touch down for the winning try.