Women’s AIL Round-Up

Strong in the first half and resilient in the second, UL Bohemians maintained their perfect start to the Women’s All-Ireland League season while ruining that of their rivals.

by Aisling Crowe

Women's All-Ireland League Results
Cooke 12-27 Blackrock, Shaw's Bridge
St Mary's 25-17 Highfield, Templeville Road
UL Bohemians 23-12 Old Belvedere, Annacotty
Railway Union 8-26 Galwegians, Willow Lodge

Defending champions Old Belvedere made the trip to Limerick in fine scoring form, with a brace of four-try hauls behind them. However, UL Bohemians used every tactic they had in their playbook to keep their Dublin rivals from getting into their scoring stride.

Gillian Bourke put the home team in front with an 11th minute try, converted by Niamh Briggs. The Ireland captain extended her side's lead with a couple of penalties before Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird pounced on the stroke of half-time for a try that gave UL Bohs a strong lead.

Old Belvedere showed their champions' mettle in the second half, threatening the try-line with intricate team play and Kathryn Dane struck back for the Dubliners. Marie Louise Reilly slotted over the conversion to reduce the deficit to 18-7 before Nic a Bhaird scored her second try of the game for UL. Sophie Spence got another try for Old Belvedere but despite their best efforts, the determined hosts kept repelling their attacks on the try-line.

The 23-12 victory was not enough for UL Bohs to take over at the top of the table going into the break in fixtures. A 26-8 win for Galwegians away to Railway Union in the later kick-off ensured that the westerners claimed top spot and adds spice to their next game, at home to UL Bohs on Saturday, October 8.

Meanwhile, St. Mary's consigned Highfield to their third defeat of the season (25-17), but crucially for the Dublin outfit, it was their first success of the new term and it was powered by a sensational hat-trick of tries from Ireland star Paula Fitzpatrick.

The talented back-rower and sports scientist led the charge for Mary's in tough, windy conditions which led to an enthralling end-to-end game as both teams tried to use the wind to their advantage in a tactical kicking game. Mary's captain Carol Staunton and another of their Ireland contingent, Orla Fitzsimons, added two more tries to Fitzpatrick's haul.

Highfield made Mary's sweat with a couple of tries of their own but the hosts, who gave former Highfield player Ciara Scanlon her first cap on the wing, had enough in reserve to halt their run of defeats. Blackrock also moved up the table ahead of the break until round 4 (October 8-9), travelling up to Belfast and defeating Cooke 27-12 at Shaw's Bridge.

It was a much-improved performance by the Dublin side who had managed to score just five points in their first two matches combined. Victory also elevated them above Cooke in the league standings, moving 'Rock up to fourth and dropping Grace Davitt's charges to fifth place.

Round 4 Fixtures: Sunday, October 9, kick-off 1pm unless stated
Galwegians (1st) v UL Bohemians (2nd), Crowley Park, Saturday, October 8, 4pm
Blackrock(4th) v Railway Union (7th), Stradbrook
Highfield (8th) v Cooke (5th), Woodleigh Park
Old Belvedere (3rd) v St Mary's (6th), Anglesea Road