Ulster fight back to claim draw against Connacht

Lucy Thompson scored the first of Ulster's three tries in the draw

Women's Interprovincial Championship

Ulster (6) 25

Tries: Thompson, Daley, Sloan Cons: Irwin (2) Pens: Moyles (2)

Connacht (10) 25

Tries: Deely (2), Oviawe, McGonagle Cons: Deely Pen: Deely

Ulster stormed back from a 14-point deficit in the final ten minutes to draw 25-25 with Connacht in the Women's Interprovincial Championship at Kingspan Stadium.

Both sides came into this round two encounter having lost their opener of the campaign, and while both avoided back-to-back defeats, the northern province will certainly be the happier with the final outcome.

Four scores from the visitors saw Connacht wrap up their try bonus-point with half an hour remaining but the win would elude them when, with Brittany Hogan leading the Ulster fightback from 25-11 down, late tries from India Daley and replacement Stacey Sloan, both converted by Vicky Irwin, saw things end all square.

While the western province will certainly be disappointed to allow such a seemingly secure lead slip after they were the better side for much of the contest, this was another show of character from an Ulster side who rallied from 17-0 down to claim two bonus-points in defeat to Munster last week.

Having ended an 11-year wait for an interpro victory against the same opposition last season, Ulster made a confident start to the game and dominated possession in the opening exchanges.

Sophie Barrett's fine break and offload had looked set to open the scoring, but Kathryn Dane was hauled down just short of the line.

Instead, Ulster had to make do with just a penalty from the early period of pressure with Abby Moyles accurate off the tee after Connacht were caught not rolling away at the breakdown.

Emer O'Dowd's side, though, would go on to dominate the game's second and third quarters.

The probing kicking game of Nicole Fowley was always likely to ask questions of Ulster's defence, but Connacht's line-out struggles ensured they failed to make the most of their own early opportunities.

But Connacht were settling into things and really stretching Ulster when quickly getting the ball into the five-metre channels. It was from one such attack from out wide that Connacht would make their breakthrough in the 23rd minute.

The score was created by Hannah Clarke, the wing who had been promoted to the starting line-up only on the day of game.

After taking Laoise McGonagle's offload, she stepped inside one tackle and through another before sending Meabh Deely over for the score.

Moyles responded with a second penalty to edge Ulster back in front, but it was clear which side had the momentum, and Connacht would seemingly take control of the game with scores either side of half-time.

Faith Oviawe was prominent for Connacht in the second half

Five minutes before the break, Faith Oviawe ran in a try from her own half in what was a fine individual effort, even if Ulster would again be disappointed by their tackling in the build-up.

Breakdown steals from Tara O'Neill and India Daley gave Ulster opportunities to counter, but they would go in at the turn trailing 10-6.

But the second half started much the same as the first had ended with Laoise McGonagle finishing off in the corner after another sharp interchange of passes from the visitors.

Ulster were in urgent need of a response and got one from Lucy Thompson who burst through a gap and did brilliantly to avoid putting a foot in touch on her way over the line.

After an Ulster knock on from their own scrum, Connacht produced a pre-planned move that saw Deely cut through the Ulster line to cross for her second score with just under half an hour left.

With player of the match Hogan increasingly to the fore, and Vicky Irwin bringing a spark from the bench, India Daley barged over from close range with seven minutes remaining and Irwin's conversion brought Ulster back within a score to set up the dramatic finale.

It was Irwin's break and kick ahead that brought the hosts straight back into Connacht territory with strong carrying from Daley preceding Stacey Sloan driving over the line and finishing strongly as Connacht attempted to get underneath the ball.

With only 90 seconds on the clock and the game on the line, the conversion was no foregone conclusion but again Irwin made no mistake from the tee to ensure a share of the spoils.

Ulster, with four points from their two games played, will take on Leinster next weekend.

Ulster: Farrell-McCabe; Thompson, Martin, O'Neill, McAlister; Moyles, Dane (captain); Cassidy, Daley, Barrett; Barr, O'Kane; Hill, Clenaghan, Hogan.

Replacements: Hill, Brodie, Fannin, McCamley, Sloan, McIlroy, Smyth, Irwin.

Connacht: Deely; Clarke, Dixon, Nic Dhonnacha, McGonagle; Fowley (co-captain), Moran; Burns, Brady, Collis; Tierney, Browne-Moran; Oviawe, Gleeson, Touhey (co-captain)

Replacements: Hanley, Lowney, Maher, Adams-Verling, Searle, Goulding, Ryder, Bush.