I’m pleased to say that it looks like we have a competitive Ulster Women’s League this season and, more importantly, it appears that standards are improving.

Malone Women have been setting the pace and they remain unbeaten, to date, but City of Derry Women and Ballynahinch Women are in hot pursuit.

It says something of the increase in standards that normal stalwarts at this level, Cavan Women and Enniskillen Women are somewhat floundering this season with one win apiece though, I suspect, both will still have a major say in who wins the title.

You have to have some sympathy for Virginia Women who picked this season to enter the league, when it’s been at it’s most competitive for years, and they have struggled and are yet to record a win.

However on the evidence of our featured match between City of Derry Women and Virginia Women it looks likely that the doyens of the U18 Girls game won’t have to wait too long before they get their account up and rolling.

An inspired display by Jamie Love made the difference in this game with the Derry player hitting the form of a couple of seasons ago when she turned. out for Ulster Women.

Love scored the final, and bonus point, try of the game following earlier tries from Aoife Curran, Ciara McGurk and Kelly McCarter (nee Holmes).

Virginia’s score came from winger Rebecca Warren.

The current league standings are shown below.

TEAM	P	W	D	L	PTS
Malone Women	6	6	0	0	29
City Of Derry Women	6	4	0	2	21
Ballynahinch Women	6	4	0	2	20
Cavan Women	5	1	0	4	6
Enniskillen Women	5	1	0	4	5
Virginia	4	0	0	4	-5*

GALLERY BELOW

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Pictures by Graham Service Photography.