A brace of tries from both wingers set up the well deserved win. The "Armagh Express" Christine Robb and the "Clonakilty Flyer" Grace Sheehy both touched down twice in a match that certainly did show case the talents of the players pushing for inclusion in the Irish National team.

Combined Provinces enjoy their victory

The Provinces got out to a 3-0 lead in the 10th minute with a penalty from Denise Tracey. This was only a couple of minutes after Japan missed a penalty of their own from a very handy position. The rest of the half was a very close affair with neither team really pressuring the opposition goal line.

The game turned the Provinces way in the last minute of the half. Japan's backs sliced open the Provinces mid-field, and the right wing, N. Hasebe, looked like she was about to run in under the posts for the score when left wing Christine Robb cut her down in a great cover tackle 5m from the line. On the very next play Japan spilled the ball and Robb pounced, kicking the ball to half way, scooping it up and running untouched to score under the posts. Unfortunately Tracey pulled the conversion wide. However, Robb had pulled off a 12 point swing for the Provinces.

The second half opened brightly for the Provinces. Number 8 Wendy Keenan made a great run down the blindside, but couldn't get the ball away to the unmarked Robb on her outside. Not to worry, 2 phases later Prop Marie Barrett gave a great pass to Robb who had space and the pace to score under the posts again. Tracey got the extras for 15-0 lead after 45 minutes.

Not to be out-done by ther wing partner, Grace Sheehy was next on the score board. She got the ball from a nice backline move, put in one of her pattened chip & chase kicks, was first to the ball, regathered and scored under the posts. Another conversion to Tracey got the score to 22-0.

Japan bought on a number of their top players who were being rested for the Test match this weekend, and started to exert some dominance. Ill-discipline by the Provinces kept gifting Japan great field position. This finally paid off for them with a well taken try out wide by their left wing C. Kojima. The conversion was missed, to leave the scores at 22-5.

Provinces weren't finished scoring as Sheehy got her second. An interesting cross field kick by Prop Laura Guest broke for Sheehy and sat up nicely for her. She powered through a couple of tackles and scored from 50m out. Tracey got the conversion to finish the scoring at 29-5.

Captain Wendy Keenan gave an outstanding captains performance, leading from the front, with Laura Guest, Caroline Mahon and Laura Nicholl also standing out in a very good team performance.

Provinces lineout gets ready

Scorers:

Irish Combined Provinces 29

Tries - C. Robb (2), G. Sheehy (2)

Conversions - D. Tracey (3)

Penalties - D. Tracey (1)

Japan 5

Tries - C. Kojima (1)

Full team was:

Starting XV

1	Marie	Barrett	Munster
2	Sandra	McAleer	Leinster
3	Laura	Guest	Munster
4	Caroline	Mahon	Leinster
5	Noreen	Fitzgerald	Munster
6	Claire	Knipe	Ulster
7	Edwina	McCarthy	Exile
8	Wendy	Keenan (Capt.)	Munster
9	Vanita	Henry	Ulster
10	Denise	Tracey	Munster
11	Christine	Robb	Ulster
12	Sinead	Delany (VC)	Leinster
13	Deirdre	Lynch	Munster
14	Grace	Sheehy	Munster
15	Laura	Nicholl	Ulster

Reserves (all used):

16	Emma	Stanley	Munster
17	Regina	O'Reilly	Munster
18	Triona	Brannigan	Leinster
19	Deirdre	O'Brien	Munster
20	Jean	Wynne	Connacht
21	Sinead	Ryan	Leinster
22	Zoe	Gray	Leinster
23	Liz	Comerford	Leinster
24	Vicki	McGinn	Leinster
25	Jenna	Stewart	Ulster

Coaches: Stanley Hamilton & Rohan West

Manager: June Whelan