Cooke RFC Notes: I XV 14 v Bangor RFC I XV 14 – REPORT

The first ten minutes of play saw nervous exchanges between the sides in perfect playing conditions at Upritchard Park. Despite contesting against a much bigger side it was the visitors who struck first after some 20 minutes. Atkinson carried up the middle of the park where the ball was quickly recycled. In a planned move, swift hands delivered the ball on the narrow side to winger Alan Gourley who stepped inside the defence to touch down close to the posts offering himself an easy conversion. The same player pushed a penalty wide 3 minutes later when his scrum half Burrows was tackled off the ball.

Bangor did not wait long to respond. Within five minutes pacey winger Cuthbertson evaded some half-hearted tackles to score under the posts for out-half Morgan to level the score with his conversion. Slack Cooke defence was again to blame when the burley number 10 cut through to score between the uprights shortly afterwards which he also converted. The remainder of the half was hotly contested with Bangor lock Corbett receiving a yellow card for a high tackle with Cooke full-back Cartmill punished similarly for entering a ruck from the side. Half time saw the score line remain at Bangor 14 Cooke 7

Early in the second half Bangor used their numerical advantage when Morgan linked with his backs out wide and crossed the line for his second try of the afternoon and third conversion. Cooke indiscipline presented further opportunity for the seasiders when replacement forward McClune was sent to the sin bin for diving over a ruck. An onslaught of drives by the Bangor eight against the reduced Cooke pack eventually paid off when hooker Jackson powered over for the bonus point fourth try. Morgan converted.

Cooke continued to compete valiantly and should have pulled back a try when hooker Finlay made a great break along the left wing. His pass inside to scrum half Burrows, who had the line at his mercy, wasn’t held. The visitors were however rewarded for their endeavours when winger Alex Gourley breached the Bangor defence for a try which he converted.

With 2 minutes of play time left Bangor winger Cuthbertson punished Cooke again when the visitors lost the ball in a tackle. He raced over for Morgan to conclude the scoring with his fifth conversion. Final score Bangor 35 Cooke 14

Although leaving Bangor empty handed there were many encouraging improvements in the Cooke performance. The pinpoint accuracy of youthful hooker Finlay saw the Cooke line-out function superbly with Jewhurst and Quigley untroubled by their larger opponents. Debut scrum half Burrows also gave a sterling performance showing constant willingness to enter the fray. The Gourley brothers provided a constant menace on either wing. As always, Atkinson worked tirelessly in the pack though not all of his forwards demonstrated a similar work rate.