BLACKROCK MAINTAINED THEIR perfect start to the Women’s AIL season with victory at the home of Dublin rivals St Mary’s.
Proving that anything the boys can do, the girls can just as well, Jeamie Deacon claimed the headlines and most of the early points for her team converting her own try and adding two penalties for a 13- 0 lead.
St Mary’s tenacity in fighting back when 25-0 down was rewarded with a try on 66 minutes but a yellow card three minutes later, did nothing to help their cause.
Up in Belfast, the battle of the Ulster teams was won by Cooke as they comprehensively beat Queen’s by 40 – 12 in Belfast. It was their first win in only their second game since returning to the top tier, masterminded by Grace Davitt.
The former Irish centre, who retired from rugby last winter because of injury, is in her first season as head coach but she showed she still has what it takes to sparkle on the pitch.
A vomiting bug afflicted Cooke over the weekend and, shorn of players, Davitt was forced to include herself on the bench and then to come on with just 20 minutes gone.
By then her team were down by five points to Queen’s despite getting the opening try of the game. Davitt’s presence seemed to calm the rest of her side and they began to dominate in the set-pieces.
Irish under 18 star Kathryn Dane made her senior debut at scrumhalf for Old Belvedere, who also had centre Aine Donnelly make her first league start, but their presence couldn’t prevent the home side from losing.
Two penalties from Irish legend Nora Stapleton helped Old Belvedere to a 13-10 lead at half-time but it was not enough for the home team who conceded a third try to finish the game two points adrift of Railway Union.
A cascade of tries early in the second half at Crowley Park helped Galwegians impress their new and star-studded coaching team. The home side put on a dazzling display of attacking rugby against Highfield with seven tries forming the majority of their 44 point haul in their victory.
Outside centre Nicole Frowley claimed two of their tries in front of coaches including New Zealand World Cup winner Beth Mallard and Connacht stars George Naopu and Bundee Aki.
Women’s AIL – Round 3
- Galwegians 44-5 Highfield Crowley Park
- Old Belvedere 13-15 Railway Union RFC Anglesea Road
- Queen’s 12-40 Cooke Dub Lane
- St Mary’s 10-30 Blackrock Templeville Road