High Scores Mark Opening Weekend Of Women’s All Ireland League
There were big wins for Cooke, Raliway Union, Blackrock and defending Champions UL Bohemians in the first round of matches in the Women’s All-Ireland League at the weekend.
Cooke 35 Old Belvedere 0
The action in the Women’s All Ireland League kicked off on Saturday with Cooke hosting Old Belvedere in Shaws Bridge.
Former Ireland international Eliza Downey showed she still has pace to burn as she ran in two tries. Ireland prop Ilse van Staden was in impressive form as she brushed aside the tackles for two impressive scores.
Jemma Jackson was on song with the boot adding three conversions and three penalties.
Belvo, on the back foot for most of the game, couldn’t get any consolaation despite a late rally as Cooke kept their discipline and try line intact.
Galwegians 5 Railway Union 76
Railway Union certainly came out of the blocks fast as they put Galwegians to the sword at Crowley Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Dublin side ran in 12 tries for a 5 – 76 win. There was a strong international flavour to Railway’s win with 4 tries from Ireland 7s capped Susan Vaughan and three for Ailsa Hughes, capped for the Ireland 15s.
Not to be outdone the front row got in on the act with the dynamic Lindsay Peat (2) and Cliodhna Moloney (1) both adding scores. Ireland’s Nikki Caughey kicked 8 conversions.
Railway also included Aimee Clarke, who was part of the Ireland U18 side that won the UK School Games 7s tournament recently.
Highfield 22 Blackrock College RFC 40
Highfield welcomed Blackrock to Woodleigh Park on Sunday and despite an early score from Zoe Grattage it was the visitors who set the tempo with three tries in the first half.
Blackrock’s Eimear Corri was the star of the day with 5 tries in total with Kathy Baker adding a sixth. Hannah O’Connor kicked five conversions.
Highfield fought gamely and secured a try bonus of their own thanks to the efforts of Jennie Gilbert, Leah Lyons, who converted her own score, and a late Heather O’Brien try.
Who said forwards can’t kick…. #wrugby #highfieldwomensrugby #club #division1#AIL ????? pic.twitter.com/R52QH4DTha
— Leah Lyons (@LEAH__LYONZ) September 17, 2017
Tullamore 17 UL Bohemian 47
It was an historic day at Spollanstown as Tullamore kicked off their first season in Division 1 with a visit from defending champions UL Bohs.
That the visitors ran out convincing winners was inevitable but Tullamore didn’t lie down and notched up scores from Kim Cobbe (1) and Roisin Feighery (2).
On the plus side we have our first AIL try scorer by Kim Cobbe pic.twitter.com/1ToMMPTdSC
— Tullamore RFC (@TullamoreRFC) September 17, 2017
The champions, however, proved too strong and despite early pressure from the home side they had run in three tries in in the opening half thanks to Aine Staunton, Rosie Newton and Fiona Hayes.
Newton and Hayes both dotted down again in the second half while Deirbhle Nic an Bhaird and Anna Caplice added to the tally. Edel Murphy kicked six conversions on the day.