The opening game was contested by two Ulster Barbarian sides comprising players from clubs across the province.
Out-half, Grainne McCann was first to register on the scoreboard for the Ulster Baa-Baas 2 team, followed by winger Abby Sheridan in the opening half. Amy Brady crossed for the Baa-Baas 1 side in the second half, with Mel Traynor converting. Megan Ferry and Colleen McCance, who put in a hugely impressive performance, both added their names to the list of try-scorers for the Baa-Baas 2 team, to leave the final score 20-7.
This game provided an excellent opportunity for the Deloitte Ulster Senior Women’s coaches to view players from a wide range of clubs competing against each other.
Scorers
Ulster Baa-Baas 1
Tries: Amy Brady
Cons: Mel Traynor
Ulster Baa-Baas 2
Tries: Grainne, McCann, Abby Sheridan, Megan Ferry, Colleen McCance
Line-ups
Ulster Baa-Baas 1
Amy Brady (Ballynahinch), Telesia Hutton (Dungannon), Niamh Gilgunn (Ballynahinch), Megan Gallogly (North Down), Jodie Russell (City of Armagh), Cara O’Neill (Malone), Holly Bothwell (Portadown), Jen Feeney (Belfast Harlequins), Amy Patterson (Omagh Academicals), Eimear Campbell (North Down), Katie Hughes (Carrickfergus), Sophie Kingham (Sligo), Siobhan Sheerin (Omagh Academicals), Samantha Cassidy-Campbell (Cooke), Mel Traynor (Belfast Harlequins), Becky Irvine (Randalstown), Kirsten Todd (Carrickfergus).
Ulster Baa-Baas 2
Danielle Perry (North Down), Kelly Gormley (City of Derry), Shannon Letters (Randalstown), Alanagh van Staden (Cooke), Ciara Orr (Queen’s), Aimee McNeice (Carrickfergus), Victoria Presho (North Down), Colleen McCance (Dungannon), Nia Gilbert (Randalstown), Grainne McCann (Omagh Academicals), Abby Sheridan (Queen’s), Rachel Morton (Ballynahinch), Jemima Johnston (Ballynahinch), Emma Marechaux (Omagh Academicals), Niamh McClean (Ballynahinch), Caitlin Fisher (Cooke), Megan Ferry (City of Derry), Jane Patton (Ballynahinch).
The second game saw Cooke RFC Women’s First XV take on an Ulster Baa-Baas XV for the Rosie Stewart Memorial Bowl.
Back-row, Helen McGhee opened the scoring for Cooke, showing real strength to power over for the first try of the afternoon. Centre and captain, Kelly McCormill soon followed with another excellent strike. The Baa-Baas back-row of Moya Hill, Sarah Shrestha and Fern Wilson were prominent in their defensive play, and the score remained 10-0 at half-time to the hosts. Cooke half-backs, Hannah Downey and Amanda Morton pulled the strings for the hosts, and both got on the scoresheet in the second half, Morton converting the two tries. The Baa-Baas played in determined fashion, with Ally McIlwaine particularly impressing as she dotted down three times for an unconverted hat-trick in the second half, making the final result 24-15, meaning the Rosie Stewart will remain at Shaws Bridge for another year.
Scorers
Cooke
Tries: Helen McGhee, Kelly McCormill, Amanda Morton, Hannah Downey
Cons: Amanda Morton (2)
Ulster Baa-Baas
Tries: Ally McIlwaine
Line-ups
Cooke
Georgia Boyce, Tamzin Boyce, Beth Cregan, India Daley, Hannah Downey, Katie Hetherington, Christy Hill, Dolores Hughes, Claire Johnston, Sorcha Mac Laimhin, Teah Maguire, Fiona McCaughan, Naomi McCord, Caolinn McCormack, Kelly McCormill, Helen McGhee, Claire McGowan, Cara McKevitt, Chloe McMorran, Eimear McQuillan, Amanda Morton, Megan Simpson, Lucy Thompson, Ilse van Staden.
Ulster Baa-Baas
Anna Smith (Virginia / Malone), Aoife Cahill (Queen’s), Victoria Jackson (Queen’s), Nicole Watterson (Queen’s), Ellen Patterson (Queen’s), Moya Hill (Enniskillen), Sarah Shrestha (Loughborough Uni), Fern Wilson (Malone), Hatty Ravenscroft (Belfast Harlequins), Aisling McMahoon (Queen’s), Megan Edwards (Co. Cavan), Diane Ramsay (Queen’s), Farrah Cartin-McCloskey (Enniskillen), Niamh Marley (Dungannon), Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere), Jana McQuillan (Malone), Sophie Armstrong (Malone), Eva Cafolla (Belfast Harlequins), Ella Durkan (Malone), Ashleigh Currie (Malone), Ally McIlwaine (Queen’s), Lydia Montgomery (Queen’s)
Ulster Rugby Women & Girls’ Rugby Development Manager, Eliza Downey commented:
“The Rosie Stewart Bowl is an annual memorial cup that is hosted by Cooke. Rosie Stewart was one of the founding members of the women’s team at Cooke and within Ulster Rugby. She was a real spirit of the club and enjoyed great craic and loved her rugby.
“This annual event is about showcasing rugby. The first game of the day is played by Barbarians made up of players from the Deloitte Ulster Premiership and Championship. It’s a really good chance for those players to come together play against each other, and it’s a chance for us at Ulster Rugby to have talent identification opportunities later in the season before heading into an inter-pro tournament.
“Later in the day, Cooke host the final and they face another Barbarian side made up of players from other AIL teams and Deloitte Ulster Premiership teams. What was amazing to see today, especially since COVID, was the number of people who came out to support the players from all over the province. We can see real development from year-to-year; it’s getting more competitive and the staff at Ulster Rugby are really excited to see the progress being made by the clubs. Hopefully that will filter through to the Deloitte Ulster Senior Women’s squad who will take part in upcoming inter-pros."
Our thanks go to Cooke RFC for hosting such a successful event. A special mention goes to the club coaches who have helped to grow and sustain the women’s game on a weekly basis, and to all the players who took part.
