Women: AIL Week 7 – Cooke v UL Bohemians

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We are now halfway through the Women’s All Ireland League Campaign and I’m sorry to say that after two weeks with 100% correct predictions I’ve come crashing back to earth win a measly 25% i.e. one correct out of four! 

However with some internationals panelists realeased and some not it was always going to be a difficult week trying to gauge how the teams would react – well that’s may excuse anyway.  😯 

Cooke 14 UL Bohemians 33.

UL Bohemians managed to hold on to four of their international panelists for the trip to Belfast but, once again, it was Cooke who were the authors of their own misfortune with poor tackling and very poor ball retention allowing the visitors to race to a 26 – 0 lead in the first half hour. Hard running Aine Staunton caused the damage bagging three tries with hooker Edel Murphy converting two and found time to score and convert a try of her own. 

Cooke eventually got their act together as the game approached the break with Ilse van Staden making the line, after a concerted period of pressure. Jemma Jackson converted and the teams turned around with Cooke trailing 7 – 26.

It was a much more competitive second half as Cooke upped their game, but a breakaway try, finished by Staunton and converted by Murphy, dealt the killer blow for the visitors about fifteen minutes in. Cooke did enjoy some success in the set piece but their poor work at the breakdown saw a lot of good work undone. 

The home side did increase their tempo as the game wore on and probably just edged the second half, a late try by Shannon Heapes, converted by Jackson, some reward for their efforts. 

The result sees Bohs consolidate their position at the top of the league with Cooke slipping down one to 6th place. 

TeamPWDLFAPDTBLBPTSU.L. Bohemian7700202651374032Old Belvedere7601200651354028Galwegians7502166113534226Railway Union RFC7205136107292414Blackrock730481107-261114Cooke7205138177-392212Highfield720593186-93019St. Mary’s710655251-196116

Galwegians 10 Old Belvedere 13

In the second match that I got wrong saw Old Belvedere coming away with the points at Galwegians with a 10 – 13 win. 

I thought the Belvo would struggle with quite a few of their team held back this week but I’d forgotten that Jenny Murphy was on her way back and the Grand Slam winner bagged all the points for the visitors in a stunning first half performance. 

Emma Clery, led the fightback in the second half with the feisty centre bagging a try, converted by Clare Raftery, but despite Rafferty adding a penalty to make it a three point game the visitors held on for the win to leapfrog their opponents into second place. 

Blackrock 17 Highfield 25

I should have known it was going to be a bad week for the predictions when the result of the Saturday match came in, Cork’s finest travelling up to the big smoke and coming away with the spoils. 

There was no bonus point for Highfield but the win was enough to get them off the bottom of the league, the result also seeing Blackrock slip to fifth place. 

St. Mary’s 3 Railway Union 53

We expected this to be a difficult weekend for an already stretched St Mary’s panel but the home side will still be disappointed to ship nine tries to a rampant Railway Union. 

However given the misfortune Railway have had this season with a couple of results it was only a matter of time before they cut loose. 

Ailsa Hughes led the way with three tries and the returning Ciara Cooney together with Aoife McDermott, Sinead Taylor, Meg Kendal, Katie O’Dwyer and Lindsay Peat all crossed for a try each. 

The bonus point win see’s Railway leapfrog Cooke and Blackrock to go fourth in the league at the halfway mark. 

Pictures below from Cooke v UL Bohemians. 

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