Cooke entered this final league game hoping to end the season positively.
Cooke entered this final league game hoping to end the season positively and realising that only a miracle would prevent close rivals Clogher Valley taking Section One honours, following the Tyrone side’s fixture with lowly placed Limavady.
The Belfast club started in confident form with out-half Murphy slotting over 2 penalties in the first ten minutes. Immediately, Cooke took play back into the Coleraine half and great support running saw the ball move between McClaughlin to Frazer before being recycled for flanker McVicker to touch down under the posts. Murphy added the conversion.
Cooke were clearly in charge of the forward exchanges and tries were claimed by second row Robinson and number 8 Mitchell before the half hour mark. Murphy’s kicking remained on target giving the home side a 27-point lead.
Things went rapidly downhill for Cooke thereafter. Just before half time full-back Pyper was yellow carded for obstructing play and a lazy pass in the Cooke back-line allowed visiting centre Orr to intercept and cross for an unconverted try. Still, the half time score line led the loyal Cooke supporters to believe that they would have the consolation of watching the team claim another try and their fourteenth bonus point of the season.
The second half witnessed an indifferent start from Cooke. Another slow pass by the Cooke backs was snatched by Coleraine winger, Jordan, who ran in under the posts for Goorley to convert. Coleraine now found another gear and hooker Ferguson was next to score with Goorley converting. The Bannsiders were now clearly on form and while their pack battled hard against the experienced Belfast eight, it was their fullback, Cochrane who again found the Cooke defence lacking, running in a try under the posts. Goorley’s conversion saw the Cooke lead squandered to one point.
The final ten minutes were marred when Coleraine second row Bogle left the field with a suspected broken arm. Coleraine had one final chance to claim the game but an optimistic penalty kick from half way was well off target leaving Cooke to cling on to the narrowest of victories Cooke 27 Coleraine 26.
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Ireland Ladies Rugby I XV Are playing England this weekend and need as much support as they can get – please watch the clip below and feel free to share it, they are on the verge of a great VICTORY & with Ulster representation!
[youtube w72eOkj_XYI]
