With a slight change of qualifying venue this year, the ERGS U18 Girls went to Rainey OB RFC to take part in the annual Girls Schools Cup qualifying tournament.
As defending champions they always will have a target on their backs and it was no different this year as 11 other Schools were pitted against the ERGS girls to try to wrestle the Schools Cup from them, and they were competing without Captain Leah Irwin who was very unfortunately sidelined due to injury.
It competition started with 3 Pool games:
First up were Loreto College, Milford.
The ERGS Girls beat them 17-0 with tries from Sophie Moore, Freya Brennan and Gemma Elliott with Eve Balfour converting one.
Next up was Sullivan Upper GS.
The ERGS Girls beat them 38-0. This times tries came from Amy Meeke, Madeline Hamill x3, Alex Boyd and Rianna Mulligan. 4 conversions added by Eve Balfour
Last pool game was RS Armagh.
The girls won this game also with a score of 19-12. Tries from Sophie Moore, Gemma Elliott
and Rianna Mulligan with a conversion apiece from Eve Balfour Amy Meeke
Then came a quarter final against Friends School Lisburn.
The ERGS girls won this by a score of 17-12 but more comfortable than the score suggests. Tries – Jessy Irwin, Jodie Thompson
and Eve Balfour (plus one conversion)
The semi final showdown was to be against Down High School. The winner of this to be attending the Schools Cup Final at the Kingspan on Wednesday 19th March and also the Irish Nationals tournament in Dublin on 9th April.
The ERGS girls blew Down HS away in this match running out deserved winners 32-12 with scores from Sophie Moore x2, Madeline Hamill, Gemma Elliott, Alex Boyd and Rianna Mulligan. Eve Balfour kicked 1 conversion before getting injured.
Therefore the Enniskillen Royal GS girls go again to Kingspan to defend their Girls Schools Cup after 5 matches unbeaten today.
Many thanks to UR referees and also Rainey RFC for hosting.
The last words go to the players and a big mention to those that weren’t on the scoresheet but added so so much to the game: Orlaith Maguire, Ellen Graham, Emma Fawcett, Hannah Dundas and Leah Irwin.
Also huge thanks to Miss Colville for all her support on the day.
Last words to our Player of the Day who was outstanding from start and especially at the finish, on what was a very challenging day for her, Sophie Moore. Outstanding team play and scoring at all the right times.
Well done to all.
