The ERGS rugby girls have been busy over the last few weeks. It started with the seniors playing Monaghan Collegiate in the Ulster Schools x7s Final at Kingspan on 21st March. It was a perfect day for rugby and both teams were backed by very enthusiastic supporters with drums, bagpipes and singing. The 4x 7min game started well with Jessica Elliott getting ERGS on the score board. Monaghan responded and the first quarter finished 3-3 try scorers Jade Ballantyne and Sophie Coalter. In the second quarter Monaghan went ahead by two tries but Sophie Coalter pulled one back for ERGS. In the final two quarters Monaghan got the upper hand physically and their two Irish 7s players in the middle were hard to contain allowing them to score seven tries to our four-try scorers Jade Ballantyne x2 and Zara Flack x2. The final result 12-8 meant victory for the Monaghan girls but the ERGS players played some very nice expansive rugby and were a credit to themselves and the school.
TEAM -Sophie Coalter (c), Joanna Crawford, Jade Ballantyne, Jessica Elliott, Katie Hetherington, Zara Flack, Rebecca Beacom, Ellen Bloomfield, India Daly, Annabelle Stewart, Jessica Glenn, Carers Daly-Hutton, Sarah Armstrong.
The next day, Thursday 22nd March, was the Junior teams turn. They were lying in second place in the Ulster Junior x7s series behind Erne Integrated. They started the day well winning their first game 6-4. Next game was played with wonderful defence giving the ERGS Team a 6-0 win. The third game was vital as they faced the series leaders Erne Integrated and was a must win game, and win they did in a very tight fought, evenly matched game. Finally they faced Maghe Ene school and with confidence brimming, finished then day on yet another win. Again some great rugby was played and bodes well for girls rugby at ERGS. Many great tries were scored but without doubt the top try scorer of the day was Casey Howe.
TEAM-Lucy Thompson (c), Katherine Graham, Casey Howe, Emily Stewart, Sarah Mullen, Katie Elliott, Nicola Allen, Lana Bothwell, Erin Browne, Jodie Browne, Millie Cannings, Holly Cobain.
The next, and final, competition for the girls this season is the Ulster Tag Cup which will be played for in a blitz on Fri 21st April and will hopefully round off a successful season for the girls.
Congratulations to our ERGS girls who are involved in the Ulster U18 7s squad for the Interprovincials which will finish next Saturday in Westmanstown – Katie Hetherington, Zara Flack, Ellen Bloomfield, Rebecca Beacom, Joanna Crawford and India Daly.
We would also like to wish Katie Hetherington all the very best as she attends the Irish U18 7s camp over the next two weekends.
