On the 7th of October 2025, SGS Senior Girls team played against neighbouring school, Mercy College away in Sligo Rugby Club. With a slow beginning to the season, the girls maintained a strong performance during the whole game. Starting with captain Lauren Hunter scoring the first try against the resilient opposition keeping the pressure on!
However The Mercy responded with a try closing in the scores. Yet Grammar came back, following with 5 more tries, scored by Elisa Doyle-Grangé, Naoise Maher, Lilith Botha, Molly Crossan and one last try by Lauren Hunter.
Kicker Bethany Hewson, with a fabulous performance, making 3 conversions leaving the final score of the game, 36-12.
With many new girls playing on the team, including TY exchange students, they adapted incredibly with the flow of the game making crucial tackles and contributing to the win, with new players Lilith and Molly both scoring tries.
The girls held composure during the game, under the management of Tadhg Power and Stanley Hunter. Both teams played great rugby and we are glad to congratulate the SGS Girls on their first league win of the season – More to come!
SGS Senior and Junior girls played against Abbey CC from Boyle on Thursday in their first league matches of the year.
The seniors put up a valiant display against a strong opposition, despite having the bare minimum of 10 players with no subs, and some of the team having never played before.
They played well in the first half, and defended bravely, however Abbey eventually managed to cross for 3 tries towards the end of the half. The Grammar girls were buoyed by the arrival of the crowd at break time, scoring two tries at the start of the second half, both scored by Lauren Hunter. However, and injury meant they had to play with a player less and Abbey CC used the extra number well to score a few more tries, leaving the final score at 33 – 14 to Abbey CC.
Our Junior girls had more joy in their league match however. Our girls applied massive pressure in the first half, but after an early score from Éala O’Dowd Hill, they failed to score again in the half, being pushed into touch or dropping the ball close to the tryline a number of times, as well as a number of disallowed tries. Abbey got 2 breakaway tries leaving the half time score at 10-5 to the opposition.
However, our girls were much more clinical in the second half. Maintaining their dominance, and with a brilliant defensive effort, they managed to score 3 more unanswered tries through Oona O’Byrne (x2) and Aoibhinn Jenkins, to win the game 20-10.
A great day all round and 2 great performances.
SGS Girls Junior Rugby played a friendly earlier in the week against Mercy College Sligo. The match was played in great spirit. The Grammar girls all did themselves proud with each of the following scoring tries.
Tries: Nixie Quinn, Eva Beirne, Aoibheann Jenkins, Emma Cafferky, Emily O’Connor, Oona O’Byrne (x3)
In the last couple of years there has been a growing interest among SGS girls in developing a Girls Rugby Team. This year there was a great turn-out for training and, in view of the interest shown, the school has entered the Connacht Schools Senior Girls Rugby League. Under coach Jake Sexton the team has trained hard.
Wednesday Oct. 5th
SGS Senior Girls Rugby Team played their first competitive game of the season, meeting Ballinrobe Community School at Ballinrobe RFC. After a hard-fought first half the schools were level, but the SGS girls pulled away in the second half to win 24 – 10. SGS tries were scored by Lara Clinch (2 tries), Saoirse Lawley and Anna Rose McLoughlin. Two of the tries were converted by Lara Clinch. Well done to the girls, who are truly trailblazers for Girls rugby in SGS!
Tuesday Oct. 25th:
SGS Senior girls won their second match in the Connacht Senior Girls Rugby League on Tuesday 25th October. The game was played at home against Sacred Heart School, Westport. The SGS girls won 33 – 17 with a total of 5 tries coming from Saoirse Lawley, Ellen Hunter and Lara Clinch. Lara also kicked four conversions. Photos from the match are here…
A big congratulations to our girls U16s 7s rugby team who played 3 games on March 10th, winning 2 and drawing one to qualify for the Connacht finals in Galway on March 23. Well done girls!
