Updated at 10.56
Galwegians 24 versus U.L. 24 Bohemian, Crowley Park
Highfield 13 versus 15 Railway Union RFC, Woodleigh Park
St Mary’s 0 versus 66 Old Belvedere, Templeville Road
Tralee 0 versus 39 Blackrock, O’Dowd Park
A DRAW, A close encounter and two one-sided affairs made for an eventful Sunday in the Women’s All Ireland League Division 1A.
Galway’s Crowley Park provided the backdrop for what could be aptly described as a game of two halves between hosts Galwegians and UL Bohemians.
Galwegians, coached by Connacht’s Kiwi back row George Naoupu, got off to a dream start with a try from scrum half Mary Healy after just 40 seconds with out half Clare Rafferty adding the extras.
The home side continued to exert dominance with Rafferty scoring a try from a quick penalty at 22 minutes but missed the conversion.
Bohs’ clawed back a try just before the half-hour mark with outside centre Louise Galvin dotting down. Ireland’s World Cup fullback Niamh Briggs duly converted.
Galwegians fullback Mairead Coyne, whose two sisters Noreen and Patricia made appearances from the bench, scored her team’s third try. Rafferty’s conversion concluded the scoring for the first half.
After the interval, the visitors began to turn around their fortunes with a hugely intensified performance. This hard work was rewarded after 52 minutes when wing Aisling Hutchings scored after collecting from a brilliant Briggs box kick.
UL Bohs continued to apply the pressure on a very heavy pitch. Replacement second row Valerie Mitchell went in for a try after making a solo break, bringing the Limerick based club to within two points of Galwegians with under 15 minutes on the clock.
Desperate not to let the game slip away from them, Galwegians added another five points courtesy of their captain and tight head prop Ruth O’Reilly.
The visitors showed composure and determination to level the match at 76 minutes through a try from inside centre Mairead Kelly and a conversion from the boot of Briggs.
Defending league champions Old Belvedere continue to ooze class as they ran riot 66 to nil away winners against an injury-depleted St Mary’s, scoring an impressive 10 tries.
Blackrock also dazzled away from home, against Tralee, with Ireland international Tania Rosser in commanding form, directing the match from out half, winning 39-0 at a balmy O’Dowd Park.
Blackrock are the only side to keep opposition scoreless over both rounds of AIL action.
The newly promoted Railway Union showed character on a good weekend for Dublin clubs, travelling to Cork and beating Highfield. A 79th minute try from wing Emer O’Mahony clinched the match for the visitors in a lively encounter.
