Having missed a few games due to clashes with the World Cup, I looked forward to catching up with the Women’s AIL as Cooke entertained Galwegians at Shaws Bridge on Sunday afternoon.

It was another beautiful autumnal afternoon but unfortunately the game didn’t quite live up to the setting in a fairly scrappy first half punctuated by quite a few breaks for injuries as both packs slugged it out for supremacy in the middle of the park.

Galwegians edged the first half battle and got their reward on the 25th minute with a try out wide to give the visitors a 0 – 5 lead at the beak.

Still plenty to play for in the second half but as the half progressed the Galwegians pack began to get on top as their Cooke counterparts tired. Two quick tries, one converted, on the 60th and 65th minutes decided the game as the Connacht side extended their lead to 0 – 17.

The visitors grabbed their try bonus with minutes left but a determined Cooke had the final say as Grace Davitt raced clear, after good work by Beth Cregan, to claim the final score of the game with a converted try.

Final score: Cooke 7 Galwegians 24

There were quite a few new names on the Cooke team sheet and they can take some comfort that they were competitive for a large portion of the game.

Cooke: Nikita Armstrong, Lesley Megarity, Ilse Van Staden, Sorcha Chipperfield, Alanagh Chipperfield, Hannah Kilgore, Beth Cregan, Brigid Collins, Shannon Davidson, Eliza Downey, Rachael Beattie, Colleen Quinn, Emma Rea, Helen McGhee, Teah Maguire. Replacements: Laura Johnston, Natalie Watson, Grace Davitt, Ali Millar, Rachel Totten, Leanne Jones, Fiona McCaughan.

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