Every Wednesday morning Sarah Lennon keeps us up to date on the Women’s game in Ireland.
Round 2 of the AIL Division 1 and a case of deja vu all over again. Just like last week there were 4 large wins and even at this early stage there is a danger of a top three setting adrift of the remining teams. The one-sidedness of the matches so far is of concern, though I suspect not for the teams on the correct end of the results.
Last week Highfield scored 69 points and they almost matched that feat with a 65 point haul versus Cooke. The Cookies were heavily beaten in round one and their long trip from Belfast to Cork was rewarded with another tough defeat. UL Bohemian moved up to more familiar territory as they climbed to 2nd in the table with a very impressive 51-8 win in Crowley Park against Galwegians. I mentioned in a previous column that the only team to beat Bohs last season were Galwegians, but the Robins went about rectifying matters in comprehensive style by nine tries to 1. Sitting in third by virtue of points scored are Old Belvedere who followed up last week's defeat of Tralee with a comprehensive win over close rivals St Mary's. A 41-5 win at Templeville Road included a hattrick from Carol Murphy. The final result of the weekend saw Tralee bounce back from last week's disappointment to register an excellent 37-0 victory over Blackrock. It's not overstating things to say that a result like that could mean survival for Tralee.
There's a familiar look to the top three with Highfield and UL Bohemian at the summit and Old Belvedere showing that their year on year progress looks like being sustained. A basement battle between Cooke, St Mary's and Blackrock is emerging. It's early days for any of these teams to panic, but what is of worry to them is a combined total of 20 points in two games for all three teams. Cooke will take on Tralee next and know that a win is essential to stop a gap appearing approaching the halfway point. Blackrock and St Mary's will contest what will be one team’s first points of the season, and we will have a better idea of where both teams are at after this one. Old Belvedere travel to Limerick to take on Bohs in what is the tie of the round and Galwegians will look to prove that this week was a blip when they take on league leaders Highfield. An exciting round 3 awaits.
In Division 2N Garda beat Navan comprehensiveley 48-0 at Westmanstown and are up to 2nd, 5 points behind leaders Belfast Harlequins. In Division 2S there are 5 teams on 5 points after two rounds, the pick of the results in round 2 was Portlaoise's win in Shannon.
The Leinster Leagues are in full swing by now and I am happy to report that there were less unfulfilled fixtures this week. Division 1 had a week off and in Division 2 Old Belvedere J1 went top after Trinity conceded their match. The fixture between Kilkenny and Carlow was abandoned after floodlight failure and we await a decision as to that fixture and a Tullow win against Enniscorthy rounded off proceedings. In Division 3, Railway Union are living up to early season expectations and are top, their latest result an 84-5 defeat of UCD. For a second game in a row Clondalkin have failed to fulfill a fixture and considering that they have dropped down a couple of divisions, this is a worrying sign for the West Dublin outfit. The Division 4, Development league sees 4 teams tied at the top with newcomers CYM sitting top on points difference.
There's a well earned rest week across most of the leagues next week, affording me an opportunity to look at the Interprovincial teams. For next week's column I'll be assessing the chances of Leinster and Connacht (don't worry Musnter and Ulster fans I'll return to you in the next rest week) and in particular Leinster's chances of retaining the Interpro title that they won in sensational style last season.
Sarah Lennon (@sarahlennon08) is passionate about all things rugby. A Leinster Season Ticket holder since the Donnybrook days, a supporter of the Irish teams home and abroad and can regularly be seen cheering on Junior Rugby at Stillorgan RFC (a labour of love). As well as spectating, she dabbles in playing a bit and is a member of Old Belvedere RFC and fully paid up member of the front row union.
