Rain in Spain never ending for crest-fallen Ireland

Ireland’s week in Spain ended with two more defeats to their hosts and Belgium, having already lost 4-2 to both nations in their opening games.

The Spanish were 5-0 up in the teams' second meeting before Naomi Carroll and Sarah Torrans got late consolation scores, while 18-year-old Torrans was on the score-sheet again in the 3-1 loss to Belgium.

Coach Graham Shaw had rested some of the squad's more experienced players for the trip, among them Katie Mullan, Gillian Pinder and Róisín Upton, in what was the beginning of a lengthy build-up to next summer's World Cup in London.

Irish Senior Cup – quarter-final draw: Ulster Elks or Lurgan v UCD; Railway Union v Loreto or Monkstown; Old Alexandra v Pegasus or Genesis; Cork Harlequins v Belfast Harlequins or Pembroke Wanderers.