Cooke 40 – 10 Limavady
Fixture: Junior Cup 2nd round
Cooke successfully progress into the next round of the cup.
Cooke v Limavady
The second meeting of the season between these two clubs saw no change in the outcome with the Belfast side progressing to the quarter-finals of the Junior cup.
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Cooke opened the scoring after just five minutes when fullback Cartmill broke along the touchline, linked with centre McMurray who released his inside centre partner Pyper to run in under the posts. McLaughlin added the simple conversion. Fifteen minutes later Cooke left wing Doherty ‘played football’ from the half way line and won the race to touch down. McLaughlin was again on target with the conversion
Cooke continued to dominate exchanges and on the half hour, when the ball was rucked in the Limavady 22, scrumhalf Bennett picked up and dashed through a gap to claim try number three for the hosts. McLaughlin’s conversion rebounded off the upright. Close to half time Doherty was again on hand to finish off an impressive phase of recycling by the Cooke pack allowing McLaughln to convert and bring the Cooke tally at the break to 26 points without reply.
Half Time score Cooke 26 Limavady 0
The second half saw Cooke continue where they left off, pinning the visitors in their own half. Attempts by Limavady to break out were thwarted by aggressive tackling by the Cooke eight. The visitors then opted to move the ball wide but were again stalled when Cooke right wing Yasim intercepted a slow pass and raced over for his debut try for the team. McLaughlin’s conversion stretched the Cooke lead to 33 points.
On the hour Cooke reshuffled personnel from the bench and a coinciding lack of concentration allowed the bulky Limavady tight-head, Scott, to barge over from a quickly tapped penalty. His out-half Haslett was wide with the conversion attempt. Five minutes later Cooke were back in opposition territory. Spotting the Limavady backs drift, the Cooke number 10 McLaughlin stepped inside a defensive gap for try six which he duly converted.
With five minutes remaining Cooke had loose-head Seawright yellow carded for a high tackle. Limavady capitalised immediately, creating an overlap for their full-back McLaughlin to finish the game with an unconverted try in the corner.
Final score Cooke 40 Limavady 10
The miserable conditions on Saturday did not lend themselves to open running rugby. The forwards worked hard and the team is to be congratulated on a haul of 6 tries. Next Saturday’s opponents, Crosshaven, will be a more serious challenge. Hopefully the weather will permit a more flowing game where the back three can show their pace.
President’s Man of the Match: PETER BENNETT
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