Brave Westport bow out of Senior Cup after defeat against Tuam

CONNACHT RUGBY WOMEN'S SENIOR CUP SEMI-FINAL

Westport 27

Tuam 53

In Carrowholly

For long spells in the first half, Westport put it up to the senior league champions. But the 'Bulls' were ultimately stopped in their tracks in the second half when Tuam fully turned on the style.

Especially Ailbhe Gannon was outstanding for the Galway women. She scored a hat-trick of tries and helped set up further ones in her team's nine try performance.

The explosive centre was too elusive to handle for the Westport defence. And even when they did stop Gannon, she was able to keep the ball alive.

She was only one reason why Tuam won all eight of their Senior League matches this season. 

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After Tuam's blitz start, running up a 0-10 lead, Westport finally came alive after twelve minutes.

Pacey winger Saoirse Ludden set up her team's first try, finished by back row forward Rita Coyne. Then Ludden crossed the whitewash herself.

The following conversion was a tough one, almost next to the touchline. But Aine O'Connor expertly sent the oval on its way sailing through the uprights.

Westport had just taken a 12-10 lead and O'Connor was accompanied by frenetic cheers when she jogged back.

They had all the momentum at this stage in the middle of the first half. Next up Laura Brady. The second row picked up the ball from a ruck and powered over the line for her team's third try of the afternoon.

It looked like Westport could go into half-time with a 17-10 lead but Tuam showed what they were made of. In the last four minutes, they ramped up the pressure and got away with two tries to flip the script before half-time.

Westport couldn't follow up on their brilliant first half performance.

The league champions from Galway shifted two gears up and inspired by Gannon they scored three tries to increase their lead to 17-39 after 52 minutes. Essentially the game was over as Tuam were in control.

Westport's accuracy let them down too often in the second half. For example, Tuam messed up at the restart, and the bouncing ball was reclaimed by a Westport player, deep into Tuam territory. But instead to build phases, Westport knocked the ball forward and the opportunity was gone.

The Mayo women never let their heads drop and the tirelessly working Saoirse Ludden added two tries to Westport's tally late on in the second half.

A full match report is carried in This week's Mayo News.