The Irish Sevens team lost out on a bronze medal at the World Sevens Series in Cape Town, coming in fourth after going down 20-12 to the USA. However, the squad have climbed up one place to fifth in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series standings after two rounds.
Beibhinn Parsons and Stacey Flood shined again getting the Irish tries with captain Lucy Mulhall converting.
Earlier in the tournament Ireland lost out to New Zealand 14-7, but the Irish squad put in an honest effort and came back from a 14-0 scoreline at halftime.
Early tries from New Zealand’s Tyla Nathan-Wong, in the opening minute, and Michaela Blyde four minutes later had the Irish on the back foot. But Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe showed her brilliant form scoring a try for the Irish which was converted by Mulhall.
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe finished as the HSBC Cape Town Seven’s joint top try scorer with an impressive seven tries after claiming her 50th cap for Ireland at the tournament.
50th cap ✅
Hat-trick ✅A good start for Ireland Women in Cape Town, as Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe runs in three tries against Spain!#Ireland7s | @TritonLake
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) December 9, 2022
The Irish squad now end 2022 in a promising position following their fourth place finish for the 2024 Olympics.
Aiden McNulty’s side have 24 points ahead of Fiji on 20, and Great Britain on 16.
The World series will resume in January with back-to-back legs in Hamilton and in Sydney.