Our final match of the weekend featured a nine hour return drive from Larne to Cork as we covered the game between Highfield and Cooke, and this one probably caused the greatest disappointment with Cooke slipping to their third successive defeat.
The game started in a bit of a farce with no referee available, one of Cooke’s travelling support standing in, and both sides struggled for continuity in the opening quarter.
Ilse van Staden crossed for Cooke on the twenty minute mark and, with Jemma Jackson converting, the visitors took a 0 – 7 lead.
The game was there for the taking for the Belfast side but they seemed determined to do little more than was necessary and as the game progressed the home side gained more and more confidence, inevitably finishing the half with a well worked try, from Nicola Scully (I believe) converted by Laura Sheehan, to even the score.
A new ref was put in place at the start of the second half but little changed on the field in a scrappy game. However the home side were getting more and more on top at the breakdown and, disappointingly, in the scrums.
The game was decided about 30 minutes into the second half when the impressive Sheehan intercepted a pass and sprinted clear to score under the posts, giving herself an easy conversion, the game ending a 14 – 7 win for the home side, who just wanted it more.
League Standings
| TEAM | P | W | D | PD | BP | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.L. Bohemian | 4 | 4 | 0 | 74 | 1 | 17 |
| Galwegians | 4 | 3 | 0 | 50 | 4 | 16 |
| Old Belvedere | 4 | 3 | 0 | 96 | 3 | 15 |
| Blackrock | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 |
| Cooke | 4 | 1 | 0 | -16 | 3 | 7 |
| St. Mary’s | 4 | 1 | 0 | -95 | 2 | 6 |
| Highfield | 4 | 1 | 0 | -77 | 0 | 4 |
| Railway Union RFC | 4 | 0 | 0 | -33 | 3 | 3 |
