Malone II’s kept a firm grip on the McCrea Cup with a 21 – 10 win against Belfast rivals Cooke at a wet and windy Ravenhill yesterday afternoon.

On a cagey first half it was Cooke who took the lead thanks to the boot of Alan Gourley who knocked over a penalty after two misses by Malone.

However a yellow card for Cooke’s Jonathan Bachus just before the break turned the game decisively in Malone’s favour. Hooker Connor Kelly and flanker Johnny Ogilby crossed for Malone just before and after half time  when Cooke were reduced to 14 men. Malone’s out half  Bruce Duff converted both to give the Red Socks a 14 – 3 lead.

Malone took the game beyond Cooke’s reach when the impressive Neil Alcorn crossed on the 65th minute and with Duff ding the extras the lead extended to 21 – 3.

Cooke deserved more out of the game than the scoreline suggested and they produced a well worked try for centre Kyle Mitchell, converted by Gourley.

Final score: Malone II 21 Cooke 10

Malone II: G Millar, J Knox, R Spence, D Irvine, J McMurry, B Duff, C Jeffrey; R Greenwood (c), C Kelly, P Eadie, T Dillon, L Barlow, J Ogilby, N Alcorn, M Porter. Replacements: T Dullage, G Crawford, A McKechnie, D-J Maxwell, J Betts.

Cooke: Alex Gourley (c), C Cregan, J Backus, K Mitchell, A Nelson, A Gourley, R Flavelle; J McClune, D McErlean, R Hunter, J Walsh, J Lyons, M Elliott, C Robinson, A Dodd. Replacements:  R Collins, O Kelly, J Harper, I Anderson, A Hanna.

Gallery Below

Picture credit – Bob Given Photography & John McMurtry