Connacht registered their opening win of the Vodafone Women’s interprovincial  Championship with a 25-19 victory over a valiant Ulster .

Wingers Clara Barrett and Ava Ryder and backrow Emma Fabby all scored tries to give the visitors a 20-point cushion at the break.

Ulster came out firing in the second half. Their captain Beth Cregan getting on the scoresheet twice, leading the fight back.

However, Barrett touched down for second try of the afternoon to make sure of the result for Connacht who ran out eventual winners.

Coming into the contest, both squads would have been targeting a victory in this fixture as they are   quite evenly matched as shown in last season’s 12-12 draw.

Connacht started the better of the two sides, having lots of the ball in the opening 10 minutes. Tight head prop Laura Feely made her presence felt around the park early on. In the same way outside centre Orla Dixon was looking dangerous anytime she got the ball in her hands.

Nicole Fowley missed a couple of early penalties to put them in the lead. But, in the 11^th minute, the deadlock was finally broken.

 Fullback Mairead Coyne put a well measured kick in behind the opposition defence and chasing it all the way, Barrett touched down in the left corner to get a well worked try.

The visitors extended their advantage a few minutes later, this time it was a score on the right flank, putting the ball through the hands, it made its way to right wing Ryder who crossed over in the corner for their second try.

On the brink of the half hour mark, Coyne was involved again as she almost went all the way herself for a brilliant individual try, however, she was caught just short of the line.  

From close range Fabby muscled her way over for try number three.  Fowley added the extras, followed up with a well taken penalty shortly after that try.

The women from the west were undoubtedly the stronger of the teams in the first half. They had too much power up front and speed out wide for their opponents. The hosts just couldn’t string any impressive phases together to launch threatening attacks, lacking real cohesion throughout the first 40 minutes of play.

Credit has to go to Neill Alcorn’s side who came out with their tails up in the second half. They looked re-energised as they put some early pressure on the opposition. They worked their way into the red zone and they made the territory count

A powerful rolling maul which was almost a whole squad effort, finished in a try scored by their skipper Cregan, with a little over 5 minutes gone in the half.

Ulster now had a pep in their step. Players like number 8 Sophie Barnett, out half Ella Durkan and impactful substitute Emma Catherine Jordan were all getting more Involved.

Their left winger Niamh Marley almost touched down for their second, unable to reach the scoring zone. In the next phase, Cregan pounced on the scraps to secure her brace. Durkan made sure of the full 7 points from the kicking tee. The score line was now 20-12, with a quarter of the match left to play.

Although, any potential winning comeback was put to bed, when the green of Barrett went racing away to score in the corner.

The home side beaten at this stage, scored a late consolation try in the dying moments. Marley getting the score which was converted by Durkan. It finished 19-25 as Connacht’s good record against Ulster continues.