There was disappointment for Ulster’s representatives in the Energia Women’s All-Ireland League at the weekend as both Enniskillen and Cooke fell to home defeats.
Closer to home, Queens University took charge of the Women’s Premiership, which Omagh and Ballynahinch lead the way in Women’s Championship West and East respectively.
Enniskillen suffered their first defeat of the season after falling to a 29-19 defeat to MU Barnhall on Saturday evening.
A Holly Leach try in the 10th minute along with a conversion and penalty from Abby Healy helped MU Barnhall to a 10-0 lead, but Stacey Sloan’s try on the cusp of halftime brought the home side back into the tie.
Eve Balfour’s conversion made a three-point game at the break, and six minutes into the second period Balfour was on target again, this time converting Catlin Crow’s touchdown to hand skins a 14-10 lead.
But the lead was short lived as the visitors responded within minutes thanks to a try from Prudence Isaac, before further tries from Lia Branigan and Aoibhín Smith secured a bonus-point win.
The result sees MU Barnhall replace Enniskillen at the top of Energia Women’s AIL Division 1B.
Cooke welcomed Ballincollig to Shaw’s Bridge and fell to a 48-19 defeat.
The South Belfast team left themselves with too much of a mountain to climb in the second half after trailing 26-0 at the break.
An improved second half showing was awarded with three tries through Amy McConkey, Megan Simpson and Freya Boyce but it wasn’t enough to prevent Cooke falling to a fourth defeat.
Latest Energia AIL results and league tables are available here.
Queen's Lead the way in Women's Premiership
Queen’s University took charge of the Women’s Premiership after the convincingly saw off Banbridge 51-0 at The Dub on Sunday afternoon.
Going into the game, both sides were locked on 15-points after winning their first three games, but Queens delivered a ruthless nine-try display to keep their unbeaten start to the season intact.
In Sunday’s other Premiership game, Clogher Valley edged Ballymena 10-7 in a tense affair at The Cran.
Ballynahinch remain top of Women’s Championship East thanks to a nail-biting encounter against Belfast Harlequins.
The game hung in the balance right to the end with Hinch emerging victorious on a 17-12 scoreline.
Lisburn fell to a 31-12 home to defeat to Portadown while Randalstown saw off Ophir 35-17 at Neilsbrook.
First half tries from Claire Molloy, Sienna Smith, Elizabeth Cullen and Rachel Hume helped Randalstown to a 22-0 half-time lead.
Molloy claimed a second try soon after the restart before Ophir went over for two tries of their own.
Holly Ferguson’s try quelled any ideas of an Ophir fightback before a late Ophir try rounded off the scoring.
The result keeps Randalstown very much in the promotion mix.
Omagh still lead the way in Women’s Championship West after they enjoyed a 39-7 win over City of Derry.
But hot on the heels of the Accies are Dungannon.
The Stevenson Park outfit enjoyed a 29-24 success over neighbours City of Armagh.
In Women’s Championship B, North Down remain unbeaten following a 32-19 win away to Lurgan.
Centre Amy Lennon was the toast of the North Down team after running in three tries with Sam Robbins claiming a brace with Angel Shaw also going over for a try.
North Down remain five-points ahead of Monaghan at the top of the table
A full run-down of last weekend's results are available here.