Galwegians also opened their winning account with an impressive bonus-point victory over Railway Union. In Division 1B, Ennis made it back-to-back victories by overcoming MU Barnhall, while Ballincollig and Enniskillen shared the spoils in a thrilling encounter at Tanner Park.
Tullow also recorded their first victory of the campaign, edging Cooke in a closely contested affair at Rathoe Road.
UL Bohemian marked a significant occasion at Annacotty with a 22-14 victory over Blackrock College, as captain Chloe Pearse made her 150th and final appearance for the Limerick club.
The milestone added an emotional dimension to an important afternoon for the defending champions, who were determined to respond after their opening-round defeat to Railway Union.
UL Bohs made the breakthrough in the 15th minute when Chisom Ugwueru crossed for the first of her two tries, but Blackrock responded strongly midway through the opening half.
Replacement Brogan Mior touched down in the 28th minute before Maggie Boylan added another try just four minutes later. Abby Moyles converted both scores as last season’s finalists moved into a 14-5 advantage.
The champions, however, produced a crucial response approaching the interval. Stephanie Nunan crossed in the 39th minute before Teni Onigbode added another try in first-half stoppage time.
Kate Flannery converted Onigbode’s effort to give UL Bohemian a 17-14 lead at the break, completing an impressive turnaround after Blackrock’s two-try burst.
Ugwueru then struck again nine minutes into the second half, completing her double and extending the hosts’ advantage to eight points. Blackrock were unable to add to their first-half tally as UL Bohs held firm to secure their first victory of the new campaign, collecting a bonus point for their four-try performance.
It was a fitting result for Pearse, who captained the side on her landmark 150th appearance before being replaced in the 56th minute. The victory ensured that her final outing in UL Bohemian colours ended on a winning note.
Old Belvedere continued their impressive start with a commanding 64-0 victory over Wicklow at Ashtown Lane, running in ten tries to secure a second successive maximum-point return.
The visitors made a blistering start, with Katie Corrigan crossing after just five minutes before Naoise Smyth added a second try four minutes later.
Whelan continued her excellent scoring form with another try in the 13th minute, while Clare Gorman crossed midway through the opening half to secure the bonus point.
Belvedere held a commanding 26-0 advantage at the interval and continued to dominate after the restart.
Hannah Wilson crossed five minutes into the second half before replacement Laura Carty added another try as the visitors stretched their lead.
Whelan completed a hat-trick with tries in the 63rd and 74th minute, while Corrigan also crossed for a second time in the 79th minute.
Wilson rounded off the scoring six minutes into stoppage time, completing her own brace as Belvedere finished with ten tries.
Ellen Jane O’Sullivan Sexton kicked five conversions, with Gorman and Amy Larn also successful from the tee as the visitors recorded the biggest winning margin of the weekend.
Galwegians also bounced back from an opening-round defeat, producing an impressive 33-12 victory over Railway Union at Crowley Park.
Railway arrived in Galway following their opening-day success against UL Bohemian and made an ideal start when Rebecca Cahill crossed after just three minutes.
However, Galwegians responded almost immediately through Siofra Hession, who converted her own try to put the hosts ahead.
Ailsa Hughes restored Railway’s advantage in the 12th minute, with Heidi Lyons adding the conversion, but the visitors were unable to maintain their early momentum.
Ellen Connolly crossed for Galwegians in the 19th minute before captain Grainne Moran added another try in the 36th minute.
Hession converted both scores to establish a 21-12 half-time advantage, with the home side having turned around Railway’s promising opening.
The hosts continued to dominate after the restart, with Ailish Quinn securing the bonus point in the 55th minute.
Railway were unable to add to their first-half tally, and Galwegians completed an impressive turnaround from their opening-round disappointment when Grace Browne Moran crossed six minutes into stoppage time.
In Division 1B, Ennis maintained their unbeaten start with a 33-17 victory over MU Barnhall at Drumbiggle, collecting their first bonus-point win of the campaign.
Barnhall arrived in Clare following an encouraging opening-round victory over Ballincollig and made the brighter start when Emer Sweetnam crossed after 11 minutes.
Ennis responded through Emily Murphy in the 24th minute, with Fia Whelan adding the conversion, but Sweetnam struck again seven minutes later to complete her double and restore Barnhall’s advantage.
The hosts regained control before the interval when Aisling Heapes crossed in the 35th minute, with Whelan’s conversion giving Ennis a 14-10 half-time lead.
Ennis extended their advantage shortly after the restart through Abi Kelly, who crossed in the 43rd minute to put further distance between the sides.
Barnhall remained in contention and were rewarded when captain Órfhlaith Murray crossed in the 70th minute, with Abby Healy converting to reduce the deficit.
However, Ennis finished strongly, with Ella Buckley touching down five minutes later before Kelly completed her double in stoppage time.
Ballincollig and Enniskillen produced one of the most entertaining contests of the weekend, sharing ten tries in a dramatic 31-31 draw at Tanner Park.
The hosts made a flying start, with Grace Kingston crossing twice inside the opening 17 minutes before Niamh Crotty added a third try midway through the opening half.
Enniskillen responded through India Daley and Amelia McFarland, but Ballincollig held a 19-12 advantage at the interval.
The Cork side extended their lead shortly after the restart when Lily Byrne crossed in the 47th minute, but Enniskillen remained firmly in the contest.
A penalty try in the 55th minute reduced the deficit before Kate O’Sullivan crossed for Ballincollig four minutes later to restore their advantage.
Zara Flack, who scored a hat-trick on the opening weekend against Tullow, added another try in the 65th minute to keep Enniskillen within striking distance.
The visitors completed their comeback in the 74th minute when Daley crossed for her second try of the afternoon, with Eve Balfour adding the conversion to level the scores.
Neither side could find a late winner, leaving both teams with three league points from an absorbing encounter.
Tullow also recorded their first victory of the season, edging Cooke 22-19 at Rathoe Road in another closely fought Division 1B contest.
Lauryn Faulkner opened the scoring for the hosts in the 14th minute before Cooke responded through Katie Gilmour ten minutes later.
Replacement Lilly Murphy restored Tullow’s advantage in the 32nd minute, giving the hosts a 12-5 lead at half-time.
Cooke fought back strongly after the restart, with Molly Boyd crossing in the 46th minute before Shola Iluyemi added another try on the hour mark. Elise McDermott converted both scores as the visitors moved 19-12 ahead entering the closing stages.
However, Tullow produced a determined late response, with Roisin Kinch crossing in the 68th minute to reduce the deficit to two points. Grace Kelly then delivered the decisive score in the 78th minute, touching down to put Tullow ahead before Anna O’Neill added the conversion.
Cooke were unable to respond in the remaining moments as Tullow secured a dramatic three-point victory and their first win of the new campaign.