Women: AIL Week 4 – Highfield v Cooke

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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. 

Highfield 14 Cooke 7

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. 

Galwegians 10 UL Bohemians 15

UL Bohs edged the top of the table clash with a 10 – 15 win at Crowley Park Galway, on Saturday afternoon. 

Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird and Rachel Allen crossed for Bohs in a feisty first half with Niamh Briggs converting the first to give the visitors a 12 point lead before Nicole Fowley pulled back three points for the hosts. 

Sarah Jane Fox crossed for Galwegians shortly after the restart and Fowley converted to make it a two point game with the score at 10 – 12. However it was the street smart Boh’s who were able to close the game out after Briggs opened up a five point lead with a second half penalty. 

Blackrock 13 Railway Union 8

Railway slipped to their fourth successive defeat, and bottom of the table, with another one score loss this time away to Blackrock.

An early score from Cliodhna Moloney gave the visitors a five point lead which they took to the break. 

The teams swapped penalties in the second half but the decisive scores came from Niamh Griffin and Katie Norris who both crossed to secure the win for the home side. 

Old Belvedere 65 St Mary’s 3

An opening penalty by St Mary’s was merely a blip in proceedings as Old Belvedere proceeded to run in ten tries in this comprehensive win. 

Alison Miller bagged four tries with Ailis Egan and Franziska Klappoth each getting a brace, the other scores coming from Jenny Finlay and Nora Stapleton. 

There is a bit of a gap starting to develop between the top and bottom half of the table with fourth placed Blackrock opening up a four point gap on Cooke. 

TeamPWDLFAPDTBLBPTSU.L. Bohemian440010834741017Galwegians430112171503116Old Belvedere430112529963015Blackrock4301454411013Cooke41037692-16127St. Mary’s410333128-95116Highfield410334111-77004Railway Union RFC40043568-33033

Pictures from Highfield v Cooke by John McMurtry.

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