Cooke Ladies started their AIL Division 2 campaign with a win away to local rivals Belfast Harlequins on Sunday. The rain dried up as the game kicked off, leaving almost perfect conditions, but with a strong wind. Cooke received kick off and Natasha Milligan opened the scoring for the away team after approximately 8 minutes, with a try in the right hand corner. The try was unconverted. Strong running from the Cooke backs saw Milligan score her second shortly after, with a converted try under the posts.
Cooke kept the pressure on and finally came away with another score through scrum half Shirelle Wilson, following some excellent defence by the Harlequins on their line. Teah Maguire scored next following a Cooke scrum and well-timed pass from Kelly Holmes, and Irish international Stacey-Lea Kennedy finished the scoring in the first half, to the right of the posts.
Harlequins started the second half raring to go and put the Cooke pack under pressure. Once Cooke regained possession, speedy Milligan completed her hat trick, with Kennedy also adding her second. Irish International Grace Davitt scored at the posts on the last play of the game, and kicked the conversion leaving the scoreline at 50-0.
